US govt providing $750,000 aid for Ruby victims

From GMA News (Dec 12): US govt providing $750,000 aid for Ruby victims

The United States government is providing $750,000 (at least P33 million) in aid and emergency humanitarian assistance to victims of Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

 

In a statement, the US Embassy in Manila also commended the Philippine government for its preparations for Ruby as well as its successful response in the cyclone's wake.

 

"In close coordination with the government of the Philippines, the United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development’s Office for Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), will provide aid for emergency humanitarian assistance. This assistance totals $750,000 (P33,408,750)," it said.

 

Ruby tore through Visayas and south Luzon, making landfall six times last weekend. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Ruby left at least 19 dead.

 

Meanwhile, the US Embassy lauded the Philippine government on its "extensive preparations" leading up to Ruby, and its "successful response."

 

It also offered condolences for the lives lost. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims," it said.

 

The embassy said it helped track the typhoon before it made landfall, and worked under the direction of the Philippines treaty ally in monitoring Ruby's trajectory.

 

Almost immediately after Ruby's first landfall, the embassy said USAID and US Pacific Command assessment teams were available to augment US Embassy Manila’s capabilities to monitor Ruby's impact.

 

"These teams also coordinated with government agencies and humanitarian organizations an emergency response on the ground. As President Obama stated last year in the wake of Super Typhoon Yolanda, '[W]hen our friends are in trouble, America helps,'” it said.

 

Also, the embassy said the successful response to Ruby featured close cooperation between representatives from USAID, the US Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and the US military.

 

It said the US military "worked with the Philippine government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to conduct initial assessments of conditions and needs in the hardest hit areas."

 

Such coordination "clearly showed that the repeated humanitarian and disaster assistance training and exercises between our two countries is an important part of our relationship," US Ambassador Philip Goldberg said.

 

Meanwhile, the embassy said the US government through USAID continues to work closely with the Philippine government and communities in hazard-prone areas to "better prepare for and respond to the effects of disasters."

 

In 2014, USAID/OFDA provided about $9.5 million (P423,177,500) for disaster risk reduction programs in the Philippines.

 

Such programs build community resilience and further strengthen national disaster management capacity.

 

This includes $500,000 (P22,272,500) in 2014 funding to the United Nations World Food Program to provide logistical support to the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development to deliver relief to disaster-affected families.

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/392249/news/nation/us-govt-providing-750-000-aid-for-ruby-victims

Police arrest kidnap-for-ransom group leader in Zamboanga Sibugay

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 12): Police arrest kidnap-for-ransom group leader in Zamboanga Sibugay

The police have arrested a suspected leader of a kidnap-for-ransom-group (KFRG) based in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, an official disclosed Friday.

Senior Supt. Robert Roy Bahian, Zamboanga Sibugay police director, identified the arrested suspect as Hassim Calon also known as Ging Calon and Hussein Ali, a sub-leader of the “dreaded” Barahami Ali KFRG.

Bahian said Calon was arrested around 1 p.m. Thursday in his hideout in Barangay Tenan, Ipil, the capital town of Zamboanga Sibugay.

Bahian said Calon is facing charges for kidnapping and serious illegal detention for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of Joel Indino Jr., a resident of Ipil municipality.

Indino was kidnapped on January 29, 2011 and was freed on April 16 of the same year in the town of Payao, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Bahian said Calon was arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 31 Judge Josefino Bael of Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay.

He said Calon was turned over to the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch (PIDMB) of his command for documentation and proper disposition.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=715551

8 former rebels get financial assistance from Capiz provincial gov't

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 12): 8 former rebels get financial assistance from Capiz provincial gov't

To expedite their transition to mainstream society, the Capiz provincial government gave Php15,000 each to eight former New People's Army (NPA) fighters Thursday.

Major Ray Tiongson, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said the surrenderees are former members of the Central Front, Komiteng Rehiyonal-Panay (CF, KR-P).

He added that the ex-rebels received Php15, 000.00 each as initial cash assistance under the government’s Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) administered by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco, Sr., and 3rd Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, DILG Capiz provincial director Clyne Deocampo, 301st Infantry Brigade Col. Eric Uchida and 61st Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Victor Llapitan welcomed the returnees.

All the ex-NPA fighters said that their decision to surrender was brought about by their desire to live with their families peacefully.

“We call on the NPAs to abandon the armed struggle and to live a life in peace. The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the government will give you a chance to live with your families and will assist you to start a new life and give a better future for your children,” Guerrero said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=715665

MILF prepares its political party ahead of 2016 elections in Bangsamoro gov't

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 12): MILF prepares its political party ahead of 2016 elections in Bangsamoro gov't

After declaring it now recognizes Philippine electoral process, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is in the thick or preparations for its political party called United Bangsamoro Justice Party, an MILF official today, Friday, said.

Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, said in a radio interview that several trainings and seminars for would-be political leaders from the ranks of the MILF have been conducted.

Previous to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the MILF has not participated in any political process in the country.

Jaafar said the MILF also trained volunteers who will serve during the election as watchers of political aspirants.

Jaafar said it was important for would-be political leaders to understand the electoral process for them to effectively perform the roles that will be assigned to them.

The United Bangsamoro Justice Party will be actively participating in the process by fielding its own candidates in the 2016 local elections.

By then, the Bangsamoro government will replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) which is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Once the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) becomes a law, a plebiscite will be conducted to determine its political composition with the current ARMM provinces as its core territory.

The MILF will participate actively in the election of Bangsamoro legislators, provincial governors, vice governors, provincial lawmakers down to village officials.

Under the BBL, the regional legislators will choose among them a prime minister who will become the regional political leader.

The draft BBL is still undergoing scrutiny by Philippine Congress.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=715658

Mountain Province rally condemns NPA atrocities

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 12): Mountain Province rally condemns NPA atrocities

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte -- Local officials led by Mountain Province Governor Leonardo Mayaen and some 300 students and teachers condemned the New People’s Army (NPA) for their atrocities in a rally held at the public plaza of capital town Bontoc during the observance of Human Rights Day last Wednesday.

Capt. Randy R. Sta. Maria, chief of the public affairs office of the Army's 5th Infantry Division based at Camp Melchor F dela Cruz, Gamu, Isabela province, said the rally was attended by students and teachers from Sagada National High School, Namatec National High School of Sabangan town; Mountain Province Polytechnic State College of Bontoc town, local government units (LGUs) and non-government organizations (NGOs) of Mt. Province.

The rally personally spearheaded by Governor Mayaen started at 3:00pm until 6:00pm.

In his short speech, Governor Mayaen said, “from the officialdom of Mt Province, together with my family, we condemn the NPA for destroying the image of the peace-loving people of Mt Province.”

Finch Luna, president of the Youth Leadership Summit in Sagada, Mt Province, added: “the barbaric acts of the NPA will greatly affect the tourism industry which is one of the main sources of income in our province.”

On November 30, 2014, troops from the Army's 54th IB were ambushed by NPA elements killing two soldiers and wounding five others. The incident happened after the troops conducted a three-day Youth Leadership Summit in Sagada town.

“It was an activity for peace and ironically, the NPA wanted to disrupt it which showed the anti-peace and development character of the rebels,” Sta. Maria said.

He added the four decades of armed struggle have brought senseless deaths and misery to hundreds of thousands of Filipinos, that destroyed the future of many Filipino youth as well.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=715671

Cops eye BIFF in series of bombings in Maguindanao town

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 12): Cops eye BIFF in series of bombings in Maguindanao town

The series of bombings in Shariff Aguak, Maguidanao was a sabotage on intensified police security efforts by lawless elements, a police official said Friday.

The police and Army are eyeing the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), an outlawed group, for the series of violence in Maguindanao.

”Shariff Aguak has been quiet the past few days because of intensified police visibility but the lawless elements are trying to discredit the efforts,” Senior Inspector Jonathan de Gracia, Shariff Aguak police chief, said.

De Gracia said three bombing incidents occurred this week in the town. “Good enough nobody was hurt in the grenade throwing incidents,” he said.

First, unidentified men hurled two hand grenades inside the residential compound of former Maguindanao board member Yasser Ampatuan in Barangay Poblacion. The grenades did not explode and were properly retrieved by bomb experts.

It was followed by a grenade throwing incident against Army bomb experts defusing a suspected improvised bomb in Barnagay Labo-Labo. Nobody was hurt but the blast damaged a police car.

The third grenade throwing incident happened Thursday night in a residential home in Baragay Poblacion. The grenade did not explode.

Following the incidents, De Gracia appealed to the residents to help the police in preventing bombing incidents by reporting suspicious persons with explosives.

He said public cooperation is vital in maintaining law and order in a particular community.

De Gracia admitted the “culture of silence” among the locals prevent the police from solving bombing incidents but he was hopeful the public will fully cooperate.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=715712

Government troops recover high-powered guns in Sulu

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 12): Government troops recover high-powered guns in Sulu

Government forces have recovered 13 high-power firearms and ammunition as law enforcement operations against the Abu Sayyaf brigands continue in the island province of Sulu, a military official announced Friday.

Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, said the firearms were recovered Wednesday in Barangay Mangis, Indanan, Sulu.

Guerrero said among the firearms that were recovered by the Joint Task Group Sulu headed by Col. Alan Arrojado were the following: M-16 Armalite rifle with M-203 grenade launcher attached; one 9-mm pistol; one caliber .45 pistol; four M16 Armalite rifles; three M-14 rifles; one AK-47 assault rifle; one Barrett rifle; and, one M-4 rifle.

“Our troops continue to cordon the area to prevent extrication of lawless elements operating in Indanan, Sulu,” Guerrero said.

He said they are closely working with the police and local government units in the conduct of relentless law enforcement operations in the province of Sulu.

The law enforcement operations against the Abu Sayyaf brigands started after the release of the two German hostages.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=715540

4 armed NPAs voluntarily surrender to Army units in Bukidnon

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 12): 4 armed NPAs voluntarily surrender to Army units in Bukidnon

Tired of the incessant fighting, four heavily-armed New People's Army (NPA) rebels voluntarily surrender to troopers of the 68th Infantry Battalion in San Fernando town, Bukidnon last Dec. 9.

Reports forwarded by 1st Lt. Vergel Lacambra, 10th Infantry Division spokesperson, Friday said the rebels also surrendered their weapons which consists of a M-16AI automatic rifle, two M-1 Garands and one Colt. 45 caliber pistol.

The four are now undergoing debriefing at Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Camp Panacan, Davao City.

He declined to give the names of the four for security reasons.

The surrender came less than a week after the troops of 68th Infantry Battalion encountered an estimated 80 fully armed NPA rebels in their attempt to burn the heavy equipments of Ulticon Builder’s Incorporated (UBI), the company that undertakes the San Fernando-Talaingod road project, at Barangay Magkalungay, San Fernando, Bukidnon which resulted to the death of two NPA fighters and wounding of an estimated 14 wounded.

Last Tuesday in Davao City , a total of Php1.95 million was given to 39 former rebels who received Php50,000 each in livelihood assistance.

Amidst the unbearable hardships and the mounting disillusionment in the lawless armed group, the government’s integration program provides opportunity for a better and peaceful life for the former rebels.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=715492

Rebels challenged to surrender perpetrators of Barangay Marfil massacre

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 12): Rebels challenged to surrender perpetrators of Barangay Marfil massacre

Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Aurelio Baladad has challenged the New People's Army (NPA) to surrender to authorities the perpetrators behind the bloody ambush, which killed four civilians and wounded four others at Barangay Marfil, Rosario town, Agusan Del Rosario last Nov. 30.

"No amount of sorry and indemnification is enough, we cannot bring the victims’ lives back especially Jenny and the child on her womb. Justice must be served. Surrender your men and subject them to the rule of law for violating the International Humanitarian Law and disrespect to Human Rights,” Baladad said.

He also questioned the sincerity of the apology extended by an NPA using a pseudonym and the inaction of the rebels in previous incidents where NPAs targeted and killed civilians deliberately.

“Who will believe them? They are extending an apology using pseudonym, who is she? What happens to NPAs who perpetrated the Bansalan, Davao Del Sur ambush on March 2, 2014 against a Disaster Response Ambulance? The Libay-libay, Maco massacre in 2011 and the Maragusan massacre in 2010? What responsibility has so far been made by the rebels on these murders?” the Eastern Mindanao Command chief asked.

The Barangay Marfil massacre took place when 20 NPA fighters fired on ambulance, carrying 11 civilians on their way back to Sitio Latay after attending a thanksgiving mass in Wayside Baptist Church, 5: 30 p.m. last Nov. 30.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=715647

US envoy calls Bukidnon bus attack “tragic”

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 12): US envoy calls Bukidnon bus attack “tragic”

America’s top envoy to the Philippines has denounced the deadly attack on a passenger bus in Bukidnon province that killed 10 and injured 41 others, calling the incident “tragic.”

In the latest terrorist attack on civilians, police said an improvised explosive device planted on a Rural Transit bus was detonated by a cellular phone, killing mostly students.

“It's clear we condemn any violence that takes place such as what we've seen in Mindanao,” US Ambassador Philip Goldberg said as he called for closer cooperation with the Philippines in the fight against terrorism.

“We all need to work together as we all do with the government of the Philippines to work against that kind of terror,” the envoy told reporters in an ambush interview.

Philippines-U.S. counter-terrorism cooperation has successfully led to the killing of key local terrorists from the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao.

Since 2002, hundreds of US Special Forces have been deployed and scattered in the Zamboanga Peninsula and nearby islands of Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and Central Mindanao on a rotation basis to provide combat training and weapons to the Philippine military fighting extremist groups, blamed for country's worst terrorist attacks.

According to Goldberg, the US currently have “less of a presence” in Mindanao “than it has been.”“It's been a very successful presence,” he said. “Our special operations forces have worked together for a long time so we continue that effort against this horrible scourge of terrorism.”

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=715714

CPP/Ang Bayan: Video -- Intensify mass struggles against repression

Ang Bayan propaganda video posted to the CPP Website (Dec 7): Video -- Intensify mass struggles against repression



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xlGtRfDV98

The Communist Party of the Philippines salutes the Filipino people as they give their all in defending their human rights in the face of the US-Aquino regime's relentless Oplan Bayanihan campaign of suppression. The courage shown by the toiling masses, especially the peasantry and minority peoples in confronting the brutality of operating troops of the AFP is truly praiseworthy.

Of particular note is the struggle of the peasants and Lumad people of Mindanao to defend their human rights. Their militancy and determination are the correct response to brutal military operations, in order to defeat the AFP's attempts to intimidate and silence them to submission and retreat and pave the way for the plunder of the natural resources found in their uplands and plains.

Those who joined the almost month-long protest action dubbed Manilakbayan ng Mindanao 2014 displayed commendable bravery and heroism. From Mindanao to the Visayas, from the Bicol region to Southern Tagalog, and from Mendiola to Liwasang Bonifacio in the national capital, about 300 Lumad leaders and representatives exposed and assailed the wanton trampling of their human rights and the destruction of the fruits of their efforts and struggle.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/

CPP: Ruby survivors must stand up against government neglect, economic backwardness, exploitation and environmental destruction

Propaganda statement posted to the CPP Website (Dec 12): Ruby survivors must stand up against government neglect, economic backwardness, exploitation and environmental destruction

Communist Party of the Philippines

 

Typhoon Ruby (international name Hagupit) battered the Philippines on December 7-9. While not as powerful as last year’s Yolanda (Haiyan), typhoon Ruby’s strong winds and torrential rains caused widespread damage along its path. The typhoon caused the biggest damage in Eastern Samar and parts of Northern Samar. It also caused damage in northern Panay, parts of Negros, the islands of Marinduque, Masbate and Mindoro and in Sorsogon, Batangas, Laguna and Quezon province.

It is the oppressed and exploited people who bore the brunt of the recent typhoon. Many of them, particularly those in Eastern Samar and Capiz province have yet to fully recover from typhoon Yolanda. Tens of thousands of small peasant families, small fisherfolk and rural and urban poor lost their homes and properties to strong winds and widespread flooding. Heavily silted rivers overflowed and inundated agricultural crops. Water rushing down from logged-over mountains buried entire villages in mud.

As in Yolanda and other calamities, government response to typhoon Ruby has been slow in coming. The Aquino regime deployed its officials but only to carry out nominal work for publicity in the town centers and highways. The social welfare department boasted of delivering planeloads of relief goods but, as before, distribution is limited and inefficient, making it vulnerable to thievery by bureaucrats.

In the majority of coastal and mountainous villages, the Aquino government’s presence and assistance range from non-existent to negligible. The people demand immediate food relief, as well as tools and materials to reconstruct their homes and financial assistance to immediately resume their livelihoods.

The people who suffered the brunt of typhoon Ruby are the ones who have long been suffering from government neglect, economic backwardness, feudal exploitation and the ravages of environmental destruction. The impact of the recent typhoon on their lives is several times more powerful as they suffer from grave poverty.

Over the past few days, the revolutionary and progressive forces have been responding to emergencies and extending relief assistance to the survivors of typhoon Ruby. Prior to the storm, units of the NPA and people’s militias, local branches of the CPP and mass organizations coordinated the evacuation of communities to ensure their safety.

Local mass organizations are working doubly hard to coordinate with relief agencies to facilitate the distribution of aid and assistance for survivors of typhoon Ruby. Agencies of the people’s democratic government, concerned committees of the CPP and revolutionary forces in the areas of devastation are coordinating efforts to collect donations and assistance to augment funds alloted for relief and emergency work.

In the long run, in order to effectively confront natural calamities, the Filipino people’s only recourse is to stand up against oppression and exploitation by the ruling classes of big landlords, big bourgeois compradors and their foreign overlords. They must be able to raise their economic status and their capacity to withstand typhoons by waging land reform campaigns to effect genuine distribution of land and the elimination of usury, raise the prices of their farm produce, improve productivity and generate additional income through cooperative work.

They must stand up against economic plunder and environmental destruction by foreign big mining and logging companies and their local cohorts. Even now, areas devastated by typhoon Ruby are being targeted by foreign companies for black sand mining and the extraction of other minerals.

The CPP urges the survivors of typhoon Ruby to unite with the survivors of past calamities and victims of the Aquino regime’s neglect. They must stand together to expose and fight the Aquino regime’s continuing failure to address the needs of survivors of natural calamities. They must defend their rights and seek remuneration from the ruling government for its failure to protect and guarantee their lives and livelihood.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20141212_ruby-survivors-must-stand-up-against-government-neglect-economic-backwardness-exploitation-and-environmental-destruction

CPP: Jeep fare cuts, unfair without bigger oil price rollback, wage hike and price cuts—CPP

Propaganda statement posted to the CPP Website (Dec 12): Jeep fare cuts, unfair without bigger oil price rollback, wage hike and price cuts—CPP

Communist Party of the Philippines

 

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) today said the order to cut jeepney fares by one peso is unfair to the jeepney drivers when the Aquino regime has yet to carry out necessary measures to ensure that the sharp fall in international crude oil prices will have an all-sided impact on the domestic economy and to the particular benefit of the toiling masses.

“Instead of giving priority to regulating the large companies, such as the big oil subsidiaries, the mass transportation corporations and energy producers and suppliers, the Aquino regime is training its regulatory powers on jeepney fares in a cheap publicity stunt that is being done at the expense of the small toilers,” pointed out the CPP.

“Indeed, the jeepney fare cuts will benefit the ordinary riding public, but will result in a sharp fall in the income of jeepney drivers which is barely enough to sustain the daily expenditures of their families,” said the CPP.
“The savings of a few pesos for the commuters mean nothing amid the slow and insufficient rollback in the prices of petroleum products and the continuing rise or non-reduction of the prices of basic commodities and other services.”

“The big oil companies are boosting their profit rates by not rolling back local retail prices in correspondence with the sharp decrease in the international prices of crude oil,” added the CPP.

“The Filipino people must demand that the Aquino regime train its regulatory powers to compel the big oil subsidiaries to effect bigger rollbacks in prices of diesel, gasoline, LPG, kerosene and other petroleum products to correspond to the $65-$70 per barrel levels in the prices of crude oil in the international market over the past week,” added the CPP.

“The last time that international crude oil was at these levels, around 2007, domestic prices of diesel was around 25-30 pesos per liter while gasoline prices was just above P30 per liter,” pointed out the CPP. The latest round of oil price rollbacks has placed diesel at around P32-P34 per liter.

“The toiling masses of workers, including the jeepney drivers and ordinary income earners, students, small employees and professionals must unite in order to intensify their demand for substantial wage increases, a reduction in train fares, especially those owned or operated by the government, a reduction in air, sea and provincial bus fares, a big reduction in electricity and water rates and a substantial decrease in prices of basic commodities,” said the CPP.

http://www.philippinerevolution.net/statements/20141212_jeep-fare-cuts-unfair-without-bigger-oil-price-rollback-wage-hike-and-price-cuts-cpp

MILF: BTC ComGroup attends web administration and social media training

Posted to the MILF Website (Dec 12): BTC ComGroup attends web administration and social media training



Seven members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) Communication Group led by Mr. Abdullah Cusain attended a two (2) day training on web administration and social media sponsored and handled by Mindanews held at Rue Mango Apartelle, Davao City last December 6-7, 2014.
   

The group was trained by Mindanews on how to develop and administer the Bangsamoroonline.com, the official website of the BTC. The website is the mouthpiece of the commission where its activities and other undertakings are posted on line.

The BTC CommGroup members have different field of specializations but perform the same functions as ‘peace advocates’ and disseminator of information to the broad masses.  The training has become an avenue for members in developing their skills and expertise in web administration and proper use of social media for effective public information dissemination

The training was funded by the government of Canada.

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1401-btc-comgroup-attends-web-administration-and-social-media-training

MILF: ZC Political Committee, BLMI conduct advocacy on BBL

Posted to the MILF Website (Dec 10): ZC Political Committee, BLMI conduct advocacy on BBL



The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Provincial Political Committee in Zamboanga City in cooperation with the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute (BLMI) is intensifying advocacy programs in various villages in the city to let local residents understand the provisions of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). 

On December 4, 2014, community leaders of Barangay Baliwasan, Zamboanga City organized and held a one-day advocacy program on BBL with speakers coming from the BLMI and the local political committee. 

Mr. Tirso Tahir, BLMI Research Officer and member of the institute’s Steering Committee elucidated on the 18 BBL Articles and corresponding sections by way of power point presentation.

Due to persistent request from community leaders and residents who were not able to attend a previous advocacy program on BBL, another one-day advocacy was held in Barangay Cawit on December 7. The Participants were mostly Fisher-folks and members of Urban Poor Associations. 

Mr. Tahir discussed the gains achieved in the GPH-MILF Peace process and the salient provisions of BBL and tackled them thoroughly.  He concentrated much on the annexes on Wealth-Sharing, Power-Sharing, and on contiguity and plebiscite. 

Another Advocacy program on BBL was also held at Barangay Arena Blanco on December 8 where Mr. Tahir was also the speaker, aided and joined by speakers from the MILF Provincial Political Committee, MAPAD and United Youth for Peace and Development (UNYPAD).

Some Muslim Scholars also spoke and shared Islamic perspectives on the art of negotiation, struggle and governance. At the end of the program, the participants were fully apprised of their rights under the law and their inherent obligations in peace building endeavors. 

The peace advocates also attended a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) organized by Sheikh Abdulkarim Ladjamatlih and the MILF Provincial Political Committee on December 9 at the Grand Astoria Hotel, Zamboanga City.  It was attended by representatives of the BLMI, CSO’s, NGO’s, members of Urban Poor Associations, IP’s, journalists and academicians. 

The aim of the FGD was to consolidate efforts and technical expertise by working together in promoting peace and extending support to the BBL through advocacy and other mediums of information drive. The newly- organized People’s Organization (PO) is “Zamboanga Bangsamoro solidarity”.

More advocacies in various areas are on line as part of the group’s calibrating response to those who want to be informed of their constitutional right to participate in the plebiscite to ratify the BBL and determine the Bangsamoro Territory. 

 

http://www.luwaran.com/index.php/welcome/item/1399-zc-political-committee-blmi-conduct-advocacy-on-bbl