Ex-mayor linked to the Inopacan Massacre nabbed

From the  Manila Times (Jun 14): Ex-mayor linked to  the Inopacan Massacre nabbed

SECURITY forces arrested over the weekend a former mayor of Jagna town in Bohol for his alleged involvement in the “purging” of suspected military informants within the ranks of the communist New People’s Army (NPA).

Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc, chief of the Public Affairs Office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said Exuperio Lloren, 65, was arrested by joint teams from the AFP and the Philippine National Police in his hiding place in Barangay Pahina, Jagna on strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 32.

According to Cabunoc, Lloren was charged with 15 counts of murder in connection to the infamous   “Inopacan Massacre” that claimed that lives of at least 67 persons.

http://www.manilatimes.net/ex-mayor-linked-to-inopacan-massacre-nabbed/191784/

‘Rebels’ killed by military are civilians, community leaders, says group

From the pro-CPP online propaganda publication Bulatlat (Jun 15): ‘Rebels’ killed by military are civilians, community leaders, says group



Manilakbayan 2014’s gruesome depiction of cases of extrajudicial killings (Photo by D. Ayroso / Bulatlat.com)

“The ‘NPAs’ the Army is pursuing could be farmer-leader Aida Seisa and her family.”

The military on Sunday announced they killed three members of the New People’s Army in Paquibato District here, but human rights group Karapatan condemned the killing as a “massacre” of three civilian tribal leader, village (purok) leader, and a resident, as well as an attempted murder of a woman farmer leader.

The three victims were identified Ruben Enlog, tribal leader (Datu) of the Ata Manobos in Sitio Manipis, farmer Garyo Quimbo, and Randy Carnasa, a purok leader from Purok 7.

In a press release, the Army said three NPAs were killed when soldiers of 69th Infantry Battalion (69IB), 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army were fired upon by NPA bandit group in Purok 7, Paradise Embac village, Paquibato District, Davao City around 12:05 a.m. June 14.

The Army said they recovered one M14 rifle, two unexploded explosive device (IEDs) and backpacks.

Army Commander Lt. Col. Rodney Intal said that “they acted on the report from the local residents of the presence of armed group on extortion activities in the area.”

“After the incident, we immediately coordinated with local (national police) and (scene of the crime operatives) for their appropriate investigation and documentation. We are armed with warrant of arrest of these NPA personalities,” Lt. Col. Intal said.

The Army said there were wounded NPA members who ran to escape.

Hanimay Suazo, secretary general of Karapatan, however, said “the ‘NPAs’ the Army is pursuing could be farmer-leader Aida Seisa and her family.”

Suazo belied claims of the Army that they have killed NPA members.

“Aida Seisa, secretary-general of Paquibato District Peasant Association or PADIPA, was talking with guests in her home in Purok 7, Paradise Embac, Paquibato when an unknown number of military forces fired at them for over 30 minutes,” said Suazo.

She said Seisa was able to escape, along with her husband and two children.

“One of Aida’s daughter, who is 12 years old was also wounded in that attack and was left in their house,” Suazo said.

Suazo said Seisa’s residence was “cordoned by the military and the child was unable to get timely medical aid.”

“The corpses were then brought to the central area of the community. They were then photographed after guns and explosives were laid by their side, to falsely show that they were members of the [NPA],” she said.

Suazo said the incident came only a few days after a fact-finding mission was conducted in Paquibato by several concerned organizations.

“We have just wrapped up a fact-finding mission in Sitio Quimotod in Paquibato, where we documented bombings and harassments of the populace by the 69th IB. A few days after, state forces massacred the civilians, adding up to their already long list of human rights violations,” said Suazo.

“The body of Enlog and the other victim is now at a funeral home in Paquibato, while Carnasa’s body was brought to Panabo City,” Suazo said.

http://bulatlat.com/main/2015/06/15/rebels-killed-by-military-are-civilians-community-leaders-says-group/

Youth-led peace effort in Sulu a beacon of hope

From Sun Star-Cagayan de Oro (Jun 15): Youth-led peace effort in Sulu a beacon of hope

ADVERSITY is said to beget adversity.

But in conflict-torn Sulu, hope shines from a youth-led peacebuilding initiative that has transformed an almost deserted village in Parang town into a vibrant community of some 300 families.

And with the Bangsamoro transition in the horizon, the experience of building and sustaining a “peace-centered community” in Parang’s Barangay Silangkan provides vital lessons on how to organize the work of maintaining law and order in the future autonomous region’s culturally diverse communities.

“The Silangkan experience is a story of community folks taking care of and nurturing the peace,” said Rosemain Abduraji of the nongovernment group Tumikang Sama-Sama (Together We Move Forward).

“While we practically need the police for law enforcement, there is no pillar stronger than the people taking responsibility for keeping the peace in their community,” she said.

The initiative of Silangkan folks to keep the peace is borne out of a recent history of strife that tore apart the community’s social fabric.

In 2001, government security forces bombed the coastal village in the process of pursuing Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari who had led a siege in Sulu and Zamboanga City after falling out of the political grace with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The massive military assault on Silangkan left a deep sense of insecurity among the villagers. Long after the hunt for Misuari ended, many villagers chose not to return except to tend to their farms during the day.

Soon, the village became a halfway route for Abu Sayyaf bandits who were escaping toward island hideaways or getting into the Sulu mainland, using the village’s wharf.

Abu Sayyaf bandits also choose the village to stage ballistic tests for newly bought firearms.

This situation has driven most households to arm themselves for protection.

Just when Silangkan folks have almost given up on their situation, fate intervened.

One weekend in 2012, the Jolo-based TSS staff went on a 45-minute drive to Silangkan to enjoy its pristine white sand beach.

There, they had a chance encounter with Ab’d Tazir, a former MNLF commander and among the few residents who remained in the village. What was supposed to be a weekend getaway turned out to be a deep and engaging conversation about an aging man’s dream for his family.

“Commander Tazir told us how much he wanted his children and grandchildren to acquire education so that they will have a bright future ahead of them,” related Khamar Alama.

“We didn’t expect to have a very emotionally touching exchange with him,” Alama added.

When they got back to Jolo, Alama and TSS colleagues, who are trained in conflict mediation, began planning how to help Tazir fulfill his simple but powerful dream.
“We started with a community dialogue. We have people express what they wanted to see happen in their community and how they can help achieve these goals,” said Abduraji.

“Mainly, the Silangkan villagers don’t want a repeat of the 2001 experience when they were bombed by the military. They also resolved to address a host of family feuds which result in the displacement of involved parties, hence lessen their opportunities for earning income, thereby perpetuating poverty,” Abduraji recalled. 

After a series of community-wide discussions, Silangkan villagers agreed on a set of seemingly simple rules that must be observed to keep the peace.

One, the village folks must monitor strangers who enter their community to guard against the intrusion of bandits.

Two, there should be no public display of firearms to prevent provocation.

Three, the households are organized into clusters of 10 and an elder is assigned as as a sort of “overseer.” Problems with one another should first be referred to the elder-in-charge. It is elevated to the higher leadership layers if issues are unresolved.

The last resort in conflict settlement is going to the authorities, whether the barangay officials or local police, although “most of the problems are solved at the neighborhood level,” noted Alama.

“These three basic rules are contained in a community covenant that the households signed,” Alama said.

Abduraji said the participation and involvement of elders are the bedrock of the peace-centered community approach that they developed for Silangkan.

“They are very effective leaders because they are the ones seen and heard by the people everyday,” she said.

As community peace began to take root in Silangkan, the displaced families who fled a decade ago began to stream back. Improved security also made the village a destination of basic service delivery of government agencies like medical and dental missions.

The village’s elementary and high schools were repaired.

The community’s peace infrastructure is maintained and kept alive every week.

After every congregational prayer, people hold a dialogue presided by the elders whereby issues and problems are openly discussed and resolved, said Alama.

“This makes the bond among villagers stronger,” he added.

Three years on, Silangkan folks are able to look forward to encouraging developments, like tapping the village’s eco-tourism potentials.

Silangkan also hosts schoolchildren from at least three neighboring villages torn by the presence of the Abu Sayyaf which have no schools.

“For its role in maintaining access to education, Silangkan is becoming a lighthouse for other areas,” Alama said.

Experiences like that of Silangkan are rich models for lessons on community policing “that hopefully can be mainstreamed and become the norm,” according to Kathline Tolosa of the Security Reform Initiative (SRI).

The future Bangsamoro government is envisioned to adopt community policing as a way of maintaining law and order in the communities under its administrative jurisdiction.

Pieter Cronje, consultant to the Bangsamoro Community Policing Project of the British Council, said that such approach fits post-conflict situations like in the Bangsamoro region where law enforcement has been an extension of military work.

“In the 21st century, you cannot conduct policing in a military manner,” Cronje said.

The concept of community policing was developed more fully by the United Kingdom after the so-called “Riots” that rocked south London in 1981. It sought to address racial discrimination in the conduct of law enforcement work.

Tolosa said that they are hopeful the emerging approach for community policing in the future Bangsamoro will be a mix of international and local experiences.

To ensure a high degree of success, the policing approach for the Bangsamoro should be “along the grain of local practices and culture,” said Nicholas Thomas, British Council country director for the Philippines.

Back in Sulu, Alama and Abduraji, who are in their early 30s, hope “that sooner, law and order issues in our province are resolved by Sulu folks who know more about solutions than anyone else.”

For the longstanding and seemingly intractable problem of community conflicts in Sulu, it bodes well for the entire Bangsamoro that the “innocence and fresh perspective of youth,” if harnessed, can make a difference. 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/feature/2015/06/15/youth-led-peace-effort-sulu-beacon-hope-413272

THANK GOD | Hours-long wild goose chase for truth about 'plane crash' yields nothing

From InterAksyon (Jun 14): THANK GOD | Hours-long wild goose chase for truth about 'plane crash' yields nothing



An unverified radio report that a domestic flight went down in Sultan Kudarat sent aviation, military and private airline officials on a wild goose chase for the truth Sunday afternoon.

Just after lunch, the story started circulating that a plane of leading carrier "Cebu Pacific" had crashed somewhere in Esperanza town. The information apparently came from a field reporter in Mindanao and picked up by the main desk in Manila.

A query sent to Cebu Pacific was responded to in 15 minutes: "No Cebu Pacific flight is involved in a reported incident in Sultan Kudarat today. All our flights are accounted for."

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, which was swarmed with queries from media, the general public, from Malacanang and the military, said just after Cebu Pacific's reply that it was still checking unverified reports from the PNP in Sultan Kudarat that a private aircraft had crashlanded in the area.

But, it soon added, "upon verification by our Operation Rescue and Coordinating Center, all commercial flights" flying near the area were found to be "accounted for" and there are no missing commercial flights.

CAAP continued to make verifications for an hour more, before finally concluding there was no such incident in the first place. During that time, the local police and military were reported to have mounted search missions and sounded the alert, asking people to inform authorities of any sightings.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/112385/thank-god--hours-long-wild-goose-chase-for-truth-about-plane-crash-yields-nothing

MILF: Solons laud start of MILF decommissioning; say it shows commitment to end armed conflict

Posted to the MIF Website (Jun 14): Solons laud start of MILF decommissioning; say it shows commitment to end armed conflict



 

Members of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee that sponsored the proposed Bangsamoro law submitted for debates in the House plenary today welcomed as proof of a “strong commitment to end the armed conflict” in Mindanao the start of Phase 1 of the decommissioning of MILF weapons and combatants on June 16 that was announced Thursday by the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels.

“This is a very welcome development for me as a member of Congress tackling the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law and personally as a Mindanaonon,” Ad Hoc Committee Chair and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said.

“The beginning of the decommissioning process is concrete proof of the strong commitment of the MILF to end armed conflict in the south,” Rodriguez added.

Ad Hoc Committee vice-chair and Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal similarly welcomed the commencement of the decommissioning process, noting that the decommissioning of heavy weaponry and 145 MILF members clearly establishes the commitment of the Moro group to pursue the peace agreement with the government despite a delay in the passage of the law creating the Bangsamoro region.

“There is perhaps no greater proof that the MILF is sincere in its efforts to begin peace-building with the government than this decision to voluntarily turn over their arms and weapons especially with the heated debates and the delay of the passing into law of the BBL,” Oaminal said.

A ceremonial turnover on June 16 of 55 high-powered and 20 crew-serve weapons and the decommissioning of 145 MILF combatants will formally begin Phase 1 of the process, the two peace panels announced jointly on Thursday.

Gradual decommissioning is part of the Annex on Normalization signed by the MILF and the government last January 2014. Firearms will be turned over to the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB), while decommissioned combatants will serve as pioneers and help gauge the success rate of the normalization process.

The normalization process has three main components—security, socioeconomic development, and transitional justice and reconciliation—which are aimed at fostering peace in conflict-affected communities in Mindanao, which will then allow individuals to fully pursue productive and sustainable livelihoods without fear of violence or crime. According to the Annex on Normalization, the decommissioning of MILF weapons and forces “shall be parallel and commensurate to the implementation of all the agreements of the Parties.”

“We understand that this will be gradual, but we are confident there is no stopping the decommissioning process in the coming months,” Oaminal added.

“I hope that Congress moves with urgency on the proposed BBL because the decommissioning process will move much faster with the passage and ratification of the bill, and combatants on the ground will be able to return to civilian lives much sooner,” Oaminal explained.

Another Committee vice-chair, Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong, on the other hand, noted that the MILF’s decision to begin decommissioning is a clear message to both the Senate and the House of Representatives that it is a trustworthy partner in the Bangsamoro peace process.

“We should all understand the security situation,” Loong said. “There are still other armed groups with weapons on the ground, yet the MILF is already willing to begin decommissioning for the sake of peace in Mindanao.”

“I appeal to my colleagues in the House and the Senate, especially to Senator Bongbong Marcos, to pass the BBL in the soonest possible time as this is the foundation in the roadmap to peace. We cannot move forward and bring the peace that our people desire and deserve without passing the BBL," Loong said.

"I also call on the people’s support in building a Bangsamoro that is our best chance for enhanced peace and security in Mindanao,” Loong said.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/420-solons-laud-start-of-milf-decommissioning-say-it-shows-commitment-to-end-armed-conflict

MILF: BBL brings justice, peace and dev’t for the Bangsamoro people

Posted to the MILF Website (Jun 14): BBL brings justice, peace and dev’t for the Bangsamoro people

With firm belief that the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) could bring justice, peace and development for the Bangsamoro people, some young Moro professionals urge the lawmakers to pass the undiluted version of the proposed legislation.

“The BBL embodies the aspiration of the Moro people for self-determination,” Abdul K. Silongan, President of Young Moro Professionals Council (YMPC) said.

“Yes, the Moro people are minority in our country, but it doesn’t mean that our right to govern ourselves with laws appropriate for us as Muslims with distinct belief, culture and tradition should be ignored by the non-Muslim majority Filipinos,” he explained.

Silongan said the BBL drafted by the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) should be passed because the “17 years of peace negotiation between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government is quite long.”

The BTC is a 15-man special body created by the Aquino administration to draft the Bangsamoro Basic Law in accordance with the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed by Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF on March 27, 2014.

The CAB is a peace truce between the GPH and MILF that gives leeway for the establishment of a new autonomous political entity called “Bangsamoro” that will replace the current Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

President Aquino described the region as “failed experiment.” The ARMM is noted for high poverty incidence and corruption.

“Being Moro and residents of Mindanao themselves, the BTC members knew very well how the BBL should be crafted. For sure they made the proposed law based on aspiration of the Moro people and the kind of governance that is desired,” Silongan pointed out.

Silongan said it is justice if the government will allow the practice of Shari’ah (Islamic jurisprudence) for the Moro people as Muslims.

“Prior to the creation of Philippine Republic, we existed as free nations with own customary and Islamic laws,” he related.

Before the coming of Spaniards in 1521, the Sultanates of Sulu, Maguindanao, Buayan, Kabuntalan and the four principalities of Lanao existed with Islam as their religion. 

“Our forefathers fought against the aggression of Spaniards to defend our religion, territory and people,” Silongan related.

Injustice and Oppression 

YMPC member Soraida Macadatar who grew up in the ARMM related the suffering of their family and relatives in Lanao during the height of the martial law in the 70s. “We lost some of our kin, our houses were burned and our belongings were taken away,” she said.

To quell rebellion, then President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law in 1972 putting the entire nation under military rule. 

The Moro rebellion led by Moro National Liberation (MNLF) Front Chairman Prof. Nur Misuari sparked after the Jabidah Massacre in 1968.

Lone survivor Jibin Arula related more than twenty young Moro recruits trained to become soldiers were executed at the Corregidor by their trainers after the latter discovered their plan to leave the training because of complaint for dwindling logistics support.

The incident rekindled the Moro people’s desire for independence. With the facilitation of the Organization of Islamic Conference, the MNLF signed the Tripoli Agreement in 1976 with the government and settled for autonomy instead of independence.

“We do not want a repetition of war,” said Mohalikin Piang, Regional Manager of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) in Southern Mindanao, a survivor of Malisbong massacre where more than a thousand of his male relatives and neighbors were stocked by military inside Takbil mosque in 1974, the height of Martial law era.

 “I never saw again alive those who were taken away by the soldiers,” he disclosed. Piang’s story reflected the experiences of other Moros in other parts of Mindanao.

Cost of War

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process disclosed in a report by Manila Bulletin that “The Mindanao war cost the Philippine government a staggering P2.013 trillion during the 31-year period from 1970 to 2001.”

The fighting between the MNLF combatants and government troops ended with the signing of the 1996 GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement.

The MILF, an MNLF breakaway group, signed ceasefire accord with the government in 1997 but this was disrupted when President Estrada ordered and all-out-war against the group. President Arroyo resumed peace talks with the MILF in 2004.

OPAPP further divulged that the years of fighting between the Moro rebels and the government forces claimed more than 120,000 lives including civilians.

The agency also said that the fighting after Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2008 displaced around 600,000 people. 

The administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo did not sign the proposed agreement which dismayed some MILF fighters.

All are losers

Jocelyn L. Kanda, YMPC vice president, said the Bangsamoro government must be put in place so that conflict will end stressing that all are losers in war.

“Women and children suffer most in conflict,” she said.” “They live in miserable conditions in evacuation centers but they don’t deserve that kind of life,” Kanda underscored.

She said most of those who call for an all-out-war against the MILF are those who never experienced being in the battle field or stayed in evacuation camps.

Kanda said war is costly, divisive, destructive and causes sluggish development.

Prepared to govern

Kanda said the Moro people are prepared to govern themselves having thousands of professionals in the country working in government and private entities and those working abroad.

Should be given the chance to govern, Kanda believes that the MILF which will lead the Bangsamoro Transition Authority once the BBL is approved thru a plebiscite will do its best to implement good governance in the Bangsamoro.

The YMPC envisages a Bangsamoro government that is inclusive, functional, and corrupt-free.

The MILF has already established the Bangsamoro Development Agency, the economic arm of the revolutionary organization, which leads and manages the rehabilitation and development of conflict-affected areas with the support of international communities.

The BDA also crafted the Bangsamoro Development Plan, a blueprint for the comprehensive development of the Moro people within and outside the core territory, the current ARMM areas.

Support to BBL

Various peace advocates groups, Muslims and Christians, have been calling the lawmakers to pass the BBL in the spirit of the CAB. 

"Killing the BBL is tantamount to killing the hopes and aspirations of the entire nation for peace. Killing the BBL is to repeat the Mamasapano incident a thousand fold with the whole nation as the unfortunate victim," said Gus Miclat, Executive Director of Initiatives for International Dialogue.

Senator Marcos said recently his plan to come up with a new version of BBL because for them the draft BBL has unconstitutional provisions which might be contested in the Supreme Court. 

No to diluted BBL

Ustadza Aniza Taha, chairperson of Nurus-Salam, a group of woman peace advocates, related that BBL was written “from the blood of thousands of martyrs who fought for the cause of Bangsamoro.” Taha said that a diluted BBL is completely unacceptable.

Macadatar said a diluted BBL may come out as a measure that ”will not serve its purpose.”

Study the BBL

Silongan urges the public to study the BBL before judging if it is injurious or not to the whole country in general.

The BBL is a legal translation of the GPH-MILF peace agreement which aim to put up an autonomous government for the Bangsamoro people with more powers. 

“The BBL, once realized will create an atmosphere of peace and will usher development of the region,” he added. Silongan said investments will pour in once the region is peaceful.

“Isn’t it that the whole country will benefit if the troubled region will eventually become peaceful and prosperous?” he asked.

“Do the Muslims of this country have the right to live happily and progressively like the Christian majority,” he further asked.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/new/item/419-bbl-brings-justice-peace-and-dev-t-for-the-bangsamoro-people

PAF implements modernization to protect PH's sovereignty

From Sun Star-Pampanga (Jun 13): PAF implements modernization to protect PH's sovereignty

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is upgrading its armaments, equipment and aircraft in line with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program to preserve the country’s sovereignty.

Major General Julius Cesar Guillermo, commander of the PAF First Air Division stationed in this Freeport issued the statement during the commemoration of the 117th Independence Day at SM City Clark on Friday.

Guillermo said the Air Force is acquiring helicopters and fighters planes to improve its capability in protecting the country from external aggression.

The PAF has forged a contract with KAI on March 28, 2014 for the procurement of 10 South Korean FA-50 Fighting Eagle fighter aircraft. The first two units will be delivered by December 2015.

The remaining eight will be delivered in staggered basis from 2016 to 2017.

The remaining S-211 fighter planes were upgraded to AS 211 Warrior standard for ground-attack missions. These are usually armed with .50 caliber machine guns under the fuselage.

The PAF still maintains five OV 10 bombers which were provided by Thailand in 2003 to 2004.

Guillermo said the PAF is also acquiring an initial of three four-blade combat utility helicopters which will replace its old UH-1H Huey helicopters.

Three months ago, the Air Force received the first of three Airbus C295 medium-lift transport aircraft.

The twin-turboprop plane made by Airbus Defense and Space is the PAF’s first brand new military transport aircraft in three decades.

Guillermo stressed that their efforts are focused on manning the country’s Air Defense Identification Zone, not only the West Philippine Sea but the entire archipelago.

“During his speech at the SM City Clark flag raising ceremony, Guillermo cited the statement of Andres Bonifacio, who is known as the “Father of the Philippine Revolution.”

“Engrave in your heart that the true measure of honor and happiness is to die for the freedom of your country.”

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2015/06/13/paf-implements-modernization-protect-phs-sovereignty-413002

China to UN: PH 'totally wrong' on sea row

From Rappler (Jun 14): China to UN: PH 'totally wrong' on sea row

China's deputy ambassador to the UN says, '[The Philippines'] calculations are totally wrong. No matter what they say, they will never get their way'



'ROCK FIRM.' Wang Min, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the UN, defends China's reclamation work in the South China Sea. File UN Photo/Amanda Voisard

A Chinese diplomat at the United Nations (UN) lashed back at the Philippines' criticism of its massive reclamation in the South China Sea, saying Manila has a “clear purpose to deceive the international community.”

China's deputy permanent representative to the UN Wang Min took exception to statements from the Philippine ambassador to the world body against Beijing's reclamation work in disputed waters.

At a meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, June 12, Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Lourdes Yparraguirre said that China's artificial island-building is a form of “intimidation, coercion or force.”

Wang responded by calling the Philippine statements “unwarranted accusations.” He insisted that China will continue with its reclamation work despite protests from “that country.”

“Let me make this very clear to that country here: its calculations are totally wrong. China's will to safeguard her sovereignty and territorial integrity is rock firm. No matter what and how much they say at this meeting or any UN venues, they will never get their way,” Chinese state media Xinhua quoted Wang as saying.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Sunday, June 14, that Yparraguirre took the annual meeting of State Parties to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as an opportunity to express Manila's concern about China's “increasingly aggressive rhetoric and action in the South China Sea.”

The Philippine envoy said that China's “massive, large-scale land reclamation” was a unilateral and aggressive action that threatens UNCLOS, known as the constitution for the oceans. The Philippines and China are both state parties to UNCLOS.

In the past 18 months, China has been building artificial islands in maritime features that the Philippines is contesting under a historic arbitration case Manila filed under UNCLOS before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. A hearing is set in July. (READ: What's at stake in our case vs China)

Wang reiterated China's stance that its construction work is legitimate.

"China's construction activities on her islands and reefs are conducted in the Chinese territory, falling entirely within the scope of China's sovereignty. It is legal, justified and reasonable," he said.

Wang sought to address the concern of claimant countries and the United States about reclamation by saying that it will “not undermine other countries' lawful right to the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea but will facilitate their joint response to challenges on the sea and provide more guarantee for navigation safety.”

China has maintained that its reclamation activities are for both defense and humanitarian purposes like maritime search and rescue, disaster prevention and relief, and scientific research. Yet analysts call this a “PR spin.” (READ: The China challenge in the West Philippine Sea)

Satellite images showed that China is constructing an airstrip, port facilities, cement factories, barracks, and other installations that will allow it to maintain de facto control of the disputed sea. (WATCH: Rappler Talk: The Philippines and China's 'Great Wall of Sand')

'FORCING CHANGE.' Philippine Ambassador to the UN Lourdes Yparraguirre criticizes China's reclamation work in the South China Sea at an UNCLOS meeting in the UN Headquarters in New York. Photo courtesy: DFA

Arbitration 'erroneous'

The Philippine ambassador pointed out that China's reclamation work is meant to change the status of the maritime features ahead of the ruling of the tribunal expected in early 2016.

“There should be no pattern of forcing a change in the status quo in order to advance a so-called nine-dash line claim of undisputed sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea,” Yparraguirre said.

The Filipino envoy said that China accelerated large-scale ocean filling in disputed features in the Spratly Islands including Johnson Reef, McKennan Reef, Mischief Reef, Cuarteron Reef, Gaven Reef, and Fiery Cross Reef. Fiery Cross Reef alone expanded to 11 times its original area.

Yparraguirre defended the Philippines' decision to go to arbitration, calling it “a pacific and rules-based mode of settling disputes.” She said that bilateral negotiations with China proved “futile and one-sided” because of “lack of good faith.”

Yet Wang slammed her argument, insisting on China's preference for country-to-country talks where the rising Asian superpower can assert its economic and political influence.

"China urges that country to correct its erroneous actions and return to the right track of resolving the disputes through bilateral negotiations as soon as possible,” Wang said.

The Philippines' maritime dispute with China escalated in recent months after satellite images exposed the scale of Beijing's construction work in the strategic sea. The Philippines' treaty ally, the United States also stepped in, condemning reclamation and promising to continue naval and air patrols near the artificial islands. (READ: 'China miscalculated US response to reclamation')

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also have claims to the South China Sea, believed to hold vast deposits of oil and gas, a rich fishing site, and a major global shipping route.

$280 million lost annually

Besides raising legal and geopolitical concerns, the Philippines stressed that China's reclamation work is "an environmental crisis."

“[China] has had to dredge out and pulverize entire systems of coral reefs that took many centuries to grow, reducing them into landfill, and thus devastating the already fragile marine ecosystem and biodiversity of the region by irreparably destroying the habitat of depleted, threatened or endangered species and other forms of marine life,” said Yparraguirre.

In another Philippine-organized forum at the UN on Wednesday, June 10, marine science expert Dr. Edgardo Gomez estimated that the 800 hectares of reclamation China did amounted to an annual loss worth US $280 million in ecosystem products and services.

“These are losses to the Vietnamese, the Filipinos, the Malaysians, the Indonesians, and to the Chinese themselves,” said Gomez, professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute.

“All countries that are contributing to the degradation and destruction of the shallow water ecosystems must stop their activities that are known to be detrimental to the productivity and biodiversity of the waters of Southeast Asia,” Gomez added.

Gomez said that exploiting endangered species, overfishing and destructive fishing in the South China Sea must stop.

The Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan have also done construction work in the features they control but not to the extent that China has.

http://www.rappler.com/nation/96361-china-un-philippines-reclamation

Beijing's reclamation causing environmental crisis, UN told; fisheries in grave peril

From InterAksyon (Jun 14): Beijing's reclamation causing environmental crisis, UN told; fisheries in grave peril



Reuters file photo of Chinese reclamation in the Mischief Reef.

Because of China's unbridled reclamation, the South China Sea "is already in an environmental crisis,” the Philippines' envoy to the United Nations has warned in a forum, where experts estimated that US$280 million in ecosystem products and services have been lost thus far. In another forum in Palawan, National Scientist Angel Alcala said a fishery crisis was a distinct peril, affecting not just the Philippines but China and Southeast Asia.

With at least 800 hectares of ocean filling or reclamation done by China - including areas well within the UNCLOS-mandated exclusive economic zone of countries like the Philippines - the marine environment has been so badly damaged that the biodiversity benefiting at least five nations is in grave peril, the experts stressed.

Ambassador Lourdes O. Yparraguirre, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, issued her warning before a hundred UN legal experts in a June 10 forum organized by the Philippines that focused on the protection and preservation of the marine environment.

With the theme, “UNCLOS and the Protection of the Marine Environment,” the event was held at the sidelines of the week-long 25th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (SPLOS) at the UN Headquarters.

In that meeting of State Parties, the Philippine diplomatic delegation stressed before the UN that China's expansionist policy claiming almost all of the South China Sea should concern the international community as a whole.

Yparraguirre said China's increasingly aggressive rhetoric and action in the South China Sea, "threatens the integrity of the Convention, our constitution for the oceans." Ambassador Yparraguirre said.

UNCLOS, adopted in 1982 and entered into force in 1994, defines the rights and responsibilities of its States Parties with respect to their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.

“Today, the Philippines would like to bring focus on one of the most important parts of UNCLOS. As States Parties, we share the duty to protect and preserve the marine environment under Part XII. We also – and this extends to non-States Parties too – need to cooperate on a global and regional basis in formulating rules and standards and adopt measures in order to carry out this duty,” Ambassador Yparraguirre said.

The Philippines is a State Party to UNCLOS, which defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.

Part XII of UNCLOS deals with the protection and preservation of the marine environment.

Fishery crisis looms - scientist 

As the forum in the US where the Philippine delegation to the UN warned of the dire consequences of China's reclamation was under way, a noted Filipino scientists and ex-environment chief gave grim details of the long-term damage to the marine ecosystem in a forum in Coron, Palawan.

“The on going destruction of coral reef’s along the shoals and islands where the Chinese are doing their reclamation project and construction of structures and airstrip will start a slow decline on fish catch and a ripple effect that will affect fisheries not only in the Philippines but with other South East Asian country’s leading to a fishery crisis,” said National Scientist Dr. Angel Alcala.

Alcala gave a talk on the management of marine reserves at the recently concluded forum on marine conservation organized by the United States Embassy. He warned that an impending crisis would be massive, as it will affect not only fish catch but also the entire balance of the marine eco-system.

“The effect will cause a sudden change in the natural circulation of water, this will also affect the movement and distribution of propagules. This will then spread far and wide; nutrients from the area will diminish affecting fish stock and other aquatic creatures,” he pointed out.

Alcala, secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources between August 1992 and May 1995, said several studies had indicated the decline in the abundance of fish in the Spratlys since 2005 due to the increase in fishing activity. China's massive reclamation along the atolls and shoals in the area will only make the problem worse.

He called for for more scientific research and study in the area, and on "the effects to our ocean and marine ecosystem.”



National scientist Dr. Angel Alcala explains the dangers of the Chinese reclamation to the entire marine eco-system in the West Philippine Sea during the United States Embassy activity in Coron, Palawan.

'Chinese scientists must speak up'

Alcala also reached out to other scientists, asking them to speak up in hopes of stopping the destruction of the atolls, for everyone's - not just the Filipinos' - sake.

“Chinese scientist should also step in and ask their government to stop its activity that is destroying the rich coral reefs in the area because once the damage has been done, it will not only affect the Philippines but China as well,” he added.

Dr. Nygiel Armada, the deputy chief of party with ecosystem improvement for sustainable fisheries project of the USAID, agreed with Alcala on the impact of the Chinese project.

“Protecting the coral reefs in the area is the best way to go. We are already behind in the number of marine-protected areas that should be established and this destruction will push the decline of fish biomass as the marine ecosystem will be altered,” said Armada.

Dire impact on environment

The June 10 forum at the UN, meanwhile, featured two experts: Dr. Edgardo Gomez, Professor Emeritus of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) and National Scientist of the Philippines; and Ms. Youna Lyons, senior research fellow in the Ocean and Policy Programme of the Centre for International Law of the National University of Singapore.

Assistant Secretary Benito Valeriano of the Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office and Assistant Secretary Eduardo Jose de Vega of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also joined the panel.

In his presentation, Dr. Gomez discussed the effects of the massive, large-scale ocean filling, or what the media refers to as the “reclamation” that China has undertaken with great acceleration since the Philippines filed an arbitral case against it under UNCLOS in 2013. Some of the features where this has taken place include Johnson Reef, McKennan Reef, Mischief Reef, Cuarteron Reef, Gaven Reef and Fiery Cross Reef.

Dr. Gomez applied calculations of ecological economics to estimate that the 800 hectares of ocean filling or reclamation done by China, by destroying centuries-old coral reef ecosystems used as land fill, amounted to a loss worth US$280 million in ecosystem products and services.

“These are losses to the Vietnamese, the Filipinos, the Malaysians, the Indonesians, and to the Chinese themselves,” Dr. Gomez said.

As the West Philippine Sea is of such great value to the many countries in the Coral Triangle Region and beyond, “all countries that are contributing to the degradation and destruction of the shallow water ecosystems must stop their activities that are known to be detrimental to the productivity and biodiversity of the waters of Southeast Asia,” Gomez added.

He called as well for an immediate stop to the exploitation of endangered species, as well as overfishing and destructive fishing; extractive activities must be sustainable and no ecosystems must be further destroyed or compromised, Gomez said..

In the view of Lyons, meanwhile, a pragmatic approach is needed in the West Philippine Sea, including a moratorium to further development and dredging of new features in order to save what can be saved. Lyons proposed the creation of a peace park on the South China Sea, as suggested by marine science experts, focusing on a representative network of shallow features on the Spratly seamounts.

Lyons also reiterated States’ obligation to monitor, conduct environmental impact assessment (EIA), and communicate results or share EIA reports. She said that EIAs are specifically required when there are reasonable grounds for believing that planned activities may cause substantial pollution of, or significant and harmful changes to, the marine environment.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/112377/beijings-reclamation-causing-environmental-crisis-un-told-fisheries-in-grave-peril

CAFGU in Eastern Visayas field test solar-powered detachments

From InterAksyon (Jun 14): CAFGU in Eastern Visayas field test solar-powered detachments



Photograph from Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division

The Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division, based in the Eastern Visayas is not only executing its mission of preserving peace and order in the wake of decades of armed conflict in the region, but also advocating the use of alternative sources of energy, like solar power, in their detachments.

According to 8th Infantry Division Commander, Brig. Gen. Jet Velarmino, his office distributed last year a number of solar panel setups to CAFGU detachments in the region, especially those situated away from the main roads and electricity connections.

The aim was to supplement the detachment's power needs for their communication equipment.

"We go for the alternative source of energy, especially if that can help generate more savings on the part of the government," Velarmino told Interaksyon.com.

For instance, the commander of the 802nd Brigade has installed a solar panel in their camp in Ormoc City, as one of his initiatives to have back-up power during emergencies and disasters, when there is power outage.

Velarmino said there is an ongoing study to observe the potential savings that may be obtained by using alternative sources of power, especially renewable sources like solar power.

The Philippine Army, as a whole is supporting the initiative, and it is the 8th ID that is the first to benefit from the installation of solar panels for its CAFGU detachments.

Velarmino also said having the solar powered installation makes it more effective for his units and men to respond to emergencies because of the availability of back-up power when there is a power outage.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/112374/cafgu-in-eastern-visayas-field-test-solar-powered-detachments

Search and Rescue teams dispatched to hinterlands of Sultan Kudarat

From MindaNews (Jun 14): Search and Rescue teams dispatched to hinterlands of Sultan Kudarat

Search and Rescue teams composed of soldiers, police and Bureau of Fire personnel from this town, Esperanza and Senator Ninoy Aquino towns, were dispatched to the hinterlands to search the site where a huge object reportedly crashed at around 11 a.m. Sunday.

But as of Sunday night, rescuers have not found the crash site.

Lebak mayor Dionisio Besana said he dispatched a team to locate the crash site. “If that was a plane, we are prepared.”



Members of search and rescue teams leave Lebak town in, Sultan Kudarat on Sunday to search for the object that crashed shortly before noon, in the hinterlands of the municipality. MindaNews photo by Ferdinandh B. Cabrera

Rumors flew thick and fast on Sunday afternoon that a commercial aircraft crashed. Later reports said it was a light aircraft.

In a statement released Sunday afternoon, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said it was still verifying reports that a light aircraft crashed. But its Operation Rescue and Coordinating Center reported that all commercial flights flying near the area were accounted for.

Another report said it was not a plane but the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRRM) spacecraft, a joint mission of the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to study reainfall for weather and climate research. The TRMM, according to a NASA report posted on its website, was expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmopshere “on or about June 17.”

A June 14 update from NASA said the re-entry was expected at 2:37 a.m. ETD. “Due to natural variations in the near-Earth environment, a precise time and location of where spacecraft will reenter cannot be forecast,” it said.

There is no confirmation, as yet, if what crashed in the hinterlands of Sultan Kudarat province, was the TRRM.

SFo4 Manuel Flores, a fireman and rescuer from Lebak, said they were proceeding to Barangay Salumbing.

The 6^th Infantry Division sent its air assets to help in the search but bad weather forced them to turn back.

Soldiers on patrol in the hinterlands also faced difficulties with the slippery trail due to the rains.

Residents here said they thought a bomb exploded or the explosion came from the soldiers’ armory. “ Malakas sa sumabog Sir, Akala namin mortar o bomba” (The explosion was so loud. We thought it was a mortar or a bomb that exploded).

The rescue teams appealed to the public to verify their sources of information before posting on social media as they have yet to release any information and have yet to locate the source of the explosion.

A NASA report on the TRRM posted on its website said that since the beginning of the space age in the 1950s, “there has been no confirmed report of an injury resulting from re-entering space objects.”

The last NASA spacecraft to re-enter was the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) in September 2011. UARS was a much larger satellite than TRMM and NASA received no reports of surviving debris.

NASA’s Orbital Debris Program Office estimates 12 components of the TRMM spacecraft could survive reentry but the . chance that one of these pieces would strike someone is ”approximately 1 in 4,200, which is a relatively low chance.”

The NASA also report said “any sightings of suspected TRMM debris should be reported to local authorities.”

It said the pieces of TRMM expected to survive re-entry are made of titanium and are not toxic.
“Debris could have sharp edges and should not be touched or handled, in the unlikely event someone were to find TRMM fragments,” the NASA said.

http://www.mindanews.com/environment/2015/06/15/search-and-rescue-teams-dispatched-to-hinterlands-of-sultan-kudarat/

INFOGRAPHIC: How US interests and Chinese claims collide in the South China Sea

From GMA News (Jun 11): INFOGRAPHIC: How US interests and Chinese claims collide in the South China Sea

William Johnson, a professor at the US Air Force Academy, recently listed the essential issues one needs to know about the dispute between the US allies in the Pacific, and China over the territories in the South China Sea.

Here, in a nutshell, are the points the retired Air Force officer and retired foreign service officer raised.


http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/502666/news/specialreports/infographic-how-us-interests-and-chinese-claims-collide-in-the-south-china-sea

Three NPA guerrillas killed in Davao City clash

From GMA News (Jun 14): Three NPA guerrillas killed in Davao City clash

Three New People's Army guerrillas were killed in a clash with government security forces in Davao City early morning on Sunday, a military official said.

In a press statement, Capt. Alberto Caber, public information chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Eastern Mindanao Command, said the three rebels were killed by soldiers belonging to the 69th Infantry Battalion-10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army in Purok 7, Brgy. Paradise Embac, Paquibato District at about 12: 05 a.m.

But in a separate statement, 1LT Vergel Lacambra, public affairs chief of the 10ID, said one guerrilla was killed and one M-14 rifle was recovered in the same clash in Paquibato district.

He said troops involved in the 15-minute firefight reported heavy stains of blood along the rebels'  route of withdrawal, adding that the 69th IB is now coordinating with local officials and the police to identify the slain rebel.

Meanwhile, Capt. Caber said residents identified two of the three fatalities as Randy Cornasa and Ruben Inlog, both residents of the same barangay, while the other one has yet to be identified. He said there was no casualty on the government side.

“There were wounded NPA members who ran to escape,” residents were quoted in the press statement as saying.

One the other hand, 69th IB Commander Lt. Col. Rodney Intal was quoted by Caber as saying that government forces acted on the report from residents of the presence of armed group in the area.

“After the [tip], we immediately coordinated with local police for their appropriate investigation and documentation. We are armed with warrant of arrest of these NPA personalities," Intal said.

As of June 14, 2015, 38 NPA rebels have been killed while seventy two (72) High powered Firearms (HPFAs) recovered in clashes with the security forces in Eastern Mindanao area since January 1, 2015.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/503814/news/regions/three-npa-guerrillas-killed-in-davao-city-clash

Authorities verifying reported plane crash in Sultan Kudarat

From GMA News (Jun 14): Authorities verifying reported plane crash in Sultan Kudarat

Authorities are verifying reports of a plane crash in Sultan Kudarat province that supposedly occurred before noon Sunday.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said that as of 4 p.m. Sunday, it was still confirming such reports, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported.

But the CAAP said its records showed no commercial flight passed near the area where the crash supposedly occurred.

The dzBB report cited information reaching the Sultan Kudarat police indicating the supposed crash occurred in Senator Ninoy Aquino town.

Meanwhile, Capt. Joan Petinglay, spokesperson of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, said they have not been able to verify such an incident.

Petinglay said the military's air assets in the area are all accounted for.

As of 6:11 p.m., she said air assets suspended their search operations but ground troops continued to search for the supposed missing aircraft.

Meanwhile, air carrier Cebu Pacific said none of its flights had been involved in a reported crash.

"No Cebu Pacific flight is involved in a reported incident in Sultan Kudarat today. All Cebu Pacific flights are accounted for," it said.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/503926/news/regions/authorities-verifying-reported-plane-crash-in-sultan-kudarat

House panel hopes MILF decommissioning will speed up approval of Bangsamoro law

From GMA News (Jun 14): House panel hopes MILF decommissioning will speed up approval of Bangsamoro law

Members of the House ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) on Sunday said they are optimistic that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) decommissioning of arms will prompt Congress to expedite the approval of the BBL.

 

"I appeal to my colleagues in the House and the Senate, especially to Senator Bongbong Marcos, to pass the BBL in the soonest possible time as this is the foundation in the roadmap to peace. We cannot move forward and bring the peace that our people desire and deserve without passing the BBL," Sulu Rep. Tupay Loong, vice chair of the House committee, said. 

 

Senator Marcos, the chairman of the Senate committee on local government, earlier junked the Malacañang-drafted BBL and said he intends to propose a substitute bill.

 

Loong said the symbolic decommissioning set on June 16 shows the MILF's commitment to establishing lasting peace in Mindanao. 

 

"There are still other armed groups with weapons on the ground, yet the MILF is already willing to begin decommissioning for the sake of peace in Mindanao," he said. 

 

Government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer earlier said that the first phase of decommissioning or rendering MILF fighting units "beyond use" and returning their fighters to civilian life will begin on June 16. 

 

Phase one of the decommissioning process, Ferrer said, will begin with the ceremonial turnover of 55 high-powered firearms and 20 crew-served weapons, and the decommissioning of 145 members of the MILF's Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces.

 

President Benigno Aquino III is expected to be the guest of honor at the symbolic turnover, which will be done at the old Capitol building in Maguindanao.

Committee vice-chair and Misamis Occidental Rep. Henry Oaminal also urged Congress "to move with urgency" on the BBL, saying that the decomissioning process will move along with the pace of Congress on getting the BBL passed. 

 

Last week, Congress adjourned sine die without voting on the BBL and failed to meet its self-imposed deadline of having the proposed law passed this month.

 

Gradual decommissioning is part of the Annex on Normalization signed by the MILF and the government last January 2014.

Firearms will be turned over to the Independent Decommissioning Body, while decommissioned combatants will serve as pioneers and help gauge the success rate of the normalization process.

 

Secretary Hermino Coloma, Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said the decommissioned combatants will receive cash assistance as well as PhilHealth cards. 

 

"Ang isasakatuparang decommissioning ay isusulong na sabay at kasukat sa pagpapatupad ng iba pang kasunduan sa pagitan ng MILF at ng pamahalaan," Coloma said in a radio interview. 

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/503854/news/nation/house-panel-hopes-milf-decommissioning-will-speed-up-approval-of-bangsamoro-law

Livelihood, financial assistance await MILF fighters returning to civilian life

From GMA News (Jun 14): Livelihood, financial assistance await MILF fighters returning to civilian life

Education, livelihood assistance and financial aid await combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front after decommissioning their weapons and returning to civilian life, government peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer said Sunday.

 

In an interview aired over dzBB radio, Ferrer said phase one of the decommissioning process will begin Tuesday with the ceremonial turnover of 55 high-powered firearms and 20 crew-served weapons.

 

A total of 145 fighters belonging to the MILF's Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces have volunteered to undergo the initial stage of the process.

 

President Benigno Aquino III is expected to be the guest of honor at the symbolic turnover, which will be done at the old Capitol building in Maguindanao.

 

After decommissioning their weapons, the combatants will receive various forms of socioeconomic support from the government to help them in their transition to civilian life.

 

According to Ferrer, among the forms of relief the decommissioned MILF rebels will receive include cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, college scholarships for those who want to continue their tertiary education, or the opportunity to avail themselves of technical and vocational training from the Technical Skills and Development Training Authority (TESDA).

 

Fighters who would like to improve their literacy can also enroll in Alternative Learning Centers supervised by the Department of Education.

 

No housing assistance for now

 

After obtaining the necessary skills, the combatants will receive livelihood assistance in kind, Ferrer said.

 

“Kung halimbawa sila ay nag-aral ng vulcanizing, kasama sa socioeconomic package na in kind ‘yung implements para sa pagtatayo ng vulcanizing shop. Kung ang kalakhan naman sa kanila ay mananatili sa agrikultura, maaaring cattle or iba pang livestock at implements,” she explained.

 

Asked if shelter assistance is part of the programs lined up for the MILF fighters, Ferrer said it isn't in the books for now but the government remains open to collaborating with organizations for future housing projects.

 

“Hindi natin sinasara ang posibilidad na magde-develop tayo ng housing sites later on in partnerships with some organizations like Gawad Kalinga. Basta ang importante lang, we need to identify yung lugar, ano yung status ng lupa. We’re also exploring that as part of the overall transformation na gusto nating mangyari sa mga communities,” she said.

 

Since the normalization process is set to be in full swing upon the start of the decommissioning of weapons, Ferrer said the government is now working towards ending the Sajahatra Bangsamoro, the socio-economic program launched by Aquino to uplift the health, education, and livelihood conditions of MILF communities.  

 

“We’re now working on closing the [Sajahatra Bangsamoro] package. It’s just a temporary package. Ang papalit dyan ay ‘yung mga socio-economic programs under the annex on normalization,” she said.

 

Finish the process

 

Despite Congress’ failure to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law by the adjournment of the second regular session on June 11, Ferrer said she remains optimistic that the measure, which is a product of the peace agreement signed by the national government and MILF, will eventually be passed into law.

 

“We’ve gone this far. Ang hirap naman na basta na lamang i-abandon ng Senado at Kongreso ang naumpisahan na nilang proseso… Ang pakiusap natin sa ating mga mambabatas, tapusin naman na ngayon [ang pagpasa sa BBL] para sa 2016, tuluy-tuloy na tayo, wala na ‘yung ganitong klaseng problema,” she said.

 

The House of Representatives has reset the proposed BBL’s passage to September while the Senate eyes its approval of the bill by October.

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/503942/news/nation/livelihood-financial-assistance-await-milf-fighters-returning-to-civilian-life