AFP LAUNCHES AAGAPAY LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM

The 6th Infantry Division, Philippine Army recently launched its countryside development and livelihood enhancement programs through the “Aagapay sa Kalinaw Invitational Shootfest Shoot for a Cause”, a 6-staged, PPSA sanctioned level 1 match, which was aimed at generating funds for its different developmental and livelihood programs across Central Mindanao.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines is shifting its gear towards poverty alleviation and livelihood enhancement, as its main thrust against insurgency and terrorism.”, 6ID spokesman Col Jonathan Ponce said.

Ponce further said that through the Aagapay program, several livelihood cooperatives have already been established in Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat which benefit the families of former rebels and families in war-torn areas. Among these, he said, is a cooperative in Paglat town in Maguindanao, which produces muscovado sugar, and another in Pigcawayan town in Cotabato, which is engaged in farming and hog-raising. Ponce added that these cooperatives are being supported mainly by the local chief executives, the Cooperative Development Authority and the National Economic Development Authority.

The Aagapay sa Kalinaw Invitational Shootfest was attended by more than 200 shooters from all over Central Mindanao, who showed their support for the AFP’s projects.

“This is a paradigm shift from the AFPs search and destroy tactics, and I think this is actually what our brothers in the countryside need right now. The Aagapay lends a lot of credence to the whole government bureaucracy’s poverty alleviation programs”, Mr Faizal Ungakay, President of the Cotabato City Pistol and Rifle Association, which co-organized the event, added.



COL POMPEO V LIMBO FA (GSC) PA, Assistant Division Commander of 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division, fires the inaugural shot during the AAgapay sa Kalinaw Invitational Shootfest.

DOLE12 NEGO-KART LAUNCHED IN KORONADAL CITY

The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 12 has formally launched its latest livelihood projects, the “Nego-Kart” or Negosyo sa Kariton along with the DOLE Kabuhayan Starter Kit last November 17 at Rizal Park, Koronadal City.
At least 40 residents from Region 12 or Southwestern Mindanao were chosen to be the initial beneficiaries of the said project which aimed to provide alternative sources of income for our poor and marginal workers in the informal sector. In South Cotabato, 21 ambulant vendors received assistance packages that would mainly help their existing livelihood ventures expand and grow into profitable and sustainable businesses. The project provides services that would enable its beneficiaries increase, upgrade and diversify their products and services as well as market them to more buyers or customers. Each beneficiary was provided with a “Nego-Kart” vending cart, accessory livelihood tools worth P12, 000, some working capital for the procurement or production of marketable goods and /or services (raw materials and other inputs) and training assistance on production skills, entrepreneurship and business management.
Under the DOLE Kabuhayan Starter Kit (DK) project, at least 19 residents were given livelihood kit worth P5,000 each. Beneficiaries, which mainly came from underprivileged sectors such as out of school youths, women, parents of child laborers, Indigenous People (IPs), physically or occupationally disabled, urban poor, elderly persons, landless farmers and fisherfolk, displaced waged workers and returning overseas workers and their families. Priority projects that beneficiaries may undertake include simple house-to-house service-oriented skills (massage, plumbing, cosmetology, electrical servicing, welding, native snack preparation, car wash, motorcycle repair, cellular phone repair, appliance repair.

According to Ms Gloria Tango, DOLE 12 director, the project is part of the agency’s continuing efforts to help improve the socio-economic well-being of workers in the formal economy. DOLE, as one of the government’s line agencies that support and implement anti-poverty programs of Pres Arroyo, was delegated to assist the people on how to generate income and support their family’s need through enhancing income and providing employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, beneficiaries of the said project are required to enroll in social protection services offered by the government such as the Social Security System, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and other related social protection schemes as soon as their business cycle would allow. Displaced overseas workers on the other hand, may undergo the training-cum-production scheme being offered by the National Reintegration Center for OFWs and or venture in group projects requiring common services facility that may also be funded by the agency.

“WE ARE SAFER HERE”- MAGUINDANAO EVACUEES

Evacuees in Southern Philippines are still gripped with hesitation to go back to their respective houses even though they were told by local government officials that peace and order in the restive region have been gradually improving.

Noraima Limpongan, 24, a resident of Brgy. Alonganen, a riverside barangay of Datu Piang, Maguindanao said she could have lost her child had she insisted to stay at their home during the attack of the renegade Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) group last year. “I was due for my eldest son that time when armed MILF occupied the riverside barangays of Datu Piang last year. My parents told me to leave the area before it’s too late. I would have not celebrated my birthday last week and I would have not given my son a life he deserves had I opted to stay at our house”, says Noraima who gave birth at the evacuation center in Datu Piang.

According to the latest report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) or evacuees as a result of the military offensive between the government and moro rebels is put at 250,000 individuals or 61,452 families. Of this figure, almost 149,000 individuals (37,400 families) are inside the evacuation centers of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Piang, Guindulungan, Talitay, and Talayan all of Maguindanao while almost 97,000 individuals (24,052 families) are house-based or outside the evacuation centers (stay at their relatives in nearby areas). To date, to most of these displaced villagers who stay in various evacuation sites, returning home is still a luxury.

In fact, Norhata Sawal, a pregnant woman who stayed in a roadside tent for make-shift shelter near Datu Piang town proper, said over the month, she went back home every five days as long as the fighting receded a bit. But she only dared to stay in the house for no more than five minutes. "Houses were burnt and occupied, MILF forces were around. I am so frightened and really don't know when I can return." Sawal, who is five months into pregnancy, said she was not even sure whether she could have the baby born in her home.

Hardest hit by the fighting and mass exodus of people is the town of Datu Piang (formerly Dulawan). With this figure, practically one-third of the people of this province are displaced and in evacuation centers. Reports further said that the condition of the IDPs is steadily worsening due to lack of food and medicines, lack of good supply of water, poor hygiene, and the coming of the rainy season.

With this, pool of local executives in Maguindanao province lambasted the continuous threats posed by members of the MILF against their constituents saying that such was indeed a devious act and “un-Islamic”. Meanwhile, various local and international aid groups appealed to the MILF to once and for all put to stop looming atrocious activities so that displaced people could return to their respective houses and do their usual routines.

The government and various humanitarian organizations have already extended billions of pesos to assist the IDPs in Southern Philippines. Accordingly, the European Union through the government has been providing humanitarian support to IDPs in ARMM since 2008. They have already extended some 7.7 billion pesos to include also aids and assistance provided by the World Food Programme (WFP), International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Save the Children, International Organization for Migration and the United Nation’s Act for Peace Program under the Strengthening Response to internal Displacement in Mindanao (STRIDE-Mindanao) Project.

GOVERNMENT TROOPS EMPOWER TRI-PEOPLE IN NORTH COTABATO

In order to bring peace and development in the hinterlands of North Cotabato, the Provincial government in partnership with the Philippine Army is continuously extending various governmental services to the constituents in the province. This is one way of showing that the government is indeed serious with its commitment to attend to the needs of its constituents, whenever…wherever.

In fact, a Water System Development Project-Level II in Sitio Guitawan, Poblacion, Arakan was recently turned-over by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the Local Government Unit of Arakan. KALAHI-CIDSS or tha Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services is one of her administration’s flagship poverty alleviation program implemented by the DSWD. It is currently being implemented in 184 municipalities in 42 provinces.

According to Mayor Romulo Tagpos of Arakan, North Cotabato that the project was not possible without the cooperation of all the constituents of Arakan and the support of Philippine Army’s 57th Infantry Battalion which has been selflessly rendering invaluable services to ensure safety and security of the people and the project, as well.

Romano Gapo, one of the 500 Lumads who fled from their respective houses during the attack of the communist rebels recently said that the government troops helped them with various livelihood activities and literacy programs apart from strengthening the barangay defense force in most areas in the province. “The army helped us in building our houses which were destroyed during the Reds’ attacks and even helped us through with our livelihood activities. They also help our kids acquire basic education through their literacy programs”, said Romano.

Asked if army’s presence in the area threatens the constituents in North Cotabato, Feria Magbanua refuted such allegation saying that the troop’s presence helped them cope up with the traumatic experiences from the rebels’ harassments. “Their presence gives us hope to live a peaceful and worry-free life”, she added.

North Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan said that his constituents now become responsive and vigilant to any form of menace posed by any threat groups in the province because of the reactivation of barangay defense force in every municipality of North Cotabato. He also lauded the efforts of the state forces deployed in his province for brining literacy, peace and development closer to the people. “We hope that this undertaking will continue so that all our constituents- Christians, Muslims and Lumads shall be empowered socially, emotionally and economically to defeat poverty and communist oppression”, Governor Sacdalan said.

SABWATANG MANNY VILLAR AT SATUR OCAMPO

Kamakailan lamang ay napabalita sa ibat ibang pahayagan ang isyung pagbebenta ng 2 milyong boto sa mga presidentiables kapalit ang hinihinging limang cabinet posts at iilang committee chairmanship sa kanilang administrasyon kung papalaring manalo sa darating na eleksiyon. Sa katauhan ni Bayan Muna representative Satur Ocampo at mga kaalyado nito, puspusan ang panggagapang ng maka-kaliwa para dahan dahang masupil ang gobyerno ng Pilipinas.

Sa mga presidentiables, nangunguna ang pangalang Manny Villar sa listahan ni Satur. At ngayon, tila maisasakatuparan na ang ambisyon ng kampo ni Satur dahil sa posibleng pagkakabilang nya sa senatorial slate ni Villar. Ibig bang ipahiwatig ni Senador Villar ang kanyang pagtanggap sa offer ni Satur? Nawawala na ba ang moral ng nasabing senador at magpapatangay sa bitag ng makakaliwa? Tila nawawala na ang kumpiyansa sa sarili at kanyang integridad maisiguro lamang ang kanyang pagka panalo.

Hindi bat isa sa mga isinusulong ni Villar ang pgkakaroon ng pagbabago sa ating bansa sa pamamagitan ng malinis at maayos na gobyerno. Kung ganito ang takbo na tinatahak ngayon ng Senador, dapat na mapagmatyag na ang taong bayan lalo ang mga botante sapagkat sa umpisa pa lamang ay lantaran na ang pandaraya hindi pa man nagsisimula ang eleksiyon.

Kung talagang malinis ang hangarin ni Villar sa ating bansa, hindi dapat siya padadala sa mga “ginintuang” alok ni Satur. Siya man ay may mapagkunwaring balakin ayon sa mga plano at ambisyon ng grupong kanyang kinabibilangan. Ang totoo, hindi naman paglaban sa karapatan ng mamamayan o kapakanan ng ating bansa ang talagang mithiin ni Satur. Siya man, ay tumalikod din sa sariling idelohiya dahil sa kanyang handang pagsanib sa senatorial line-up na kung saan posibleng makakasama nya ang anak ng dating nagpahirap sa kanya na si dating presidente Ferdinand Marcos noong panahon ng martial law. Si Ilocos Norte Representative Bongbong Marcos ay isa rin sa mga kinakausap ng kampo ni Villar upang humanay sa talaan ng pagkasenador.

Ang pagtalikod din ni Satur sa dating kalyadong si Chiz Escudero matapos itong magpahayag ng kanyang pag-alis sa partidong Nationalists People’s Coalition (NPC) at nagdesisyong maging independent ay isa ring pagpapatunay na higit sa lahat ay kapangyarihan ang tanging hinahangad ni Satur Ocampo at ng mga kasama sa MAKABAYAN. Una pa man, pinahayag na ni Satur ang kanyang suporta kay Escudero sa kandidatura nito sa 2010 eleksiyon. Ngunit ang pagbitiw ni Escudero sa partido ang nagbigay din kay Satur ng dahilan upang talikuran ang Senador. Hindi bat napakalinaw na panggagamit lamang ang pakay ng grupo ni Satur lalo pa’t napakalawak ng saklaw pang pinansiyal at bilang ng taga-suporta ng naturang partido. Marahil nais lamang gawing kasangkapan ng grupo ni Satur Ocampo si Escudero at ang partido upang makalikom ng suporta at sapat na boto para sa kanya at sa MAKABAYAN.

Nakakapanlumong isipin na sa kabila ng ating kagustuhang mapabuti at magkaroon ng pagbabago sa ating bansa ay may iilan pa ring mga sakim na walang iniintindi kundi ang pansariling kapakanan. Sadyang maswerte pa rin si Juan Dela Cruz at kanyang natuklasan ang mga balakin ng mga taong ganid at mapagsamantala.

Kaya naman tayong mamamayan na may pagmamahal sa ating bansa, huwag nating hayaang manaig ang mga taong huwad ang hangarin. Dapat maging mapagmasid at huwag padadala sa mga mapaglinlang na walang ibang hinahangad kundi maisakatuparan ang kanilang ambisyon at pansariling interes sa bayan.

HACIENDA LUISITA IN MEMORIAM

Having another Cojuangco in Malacañang is fitting as most would say. They are a family built with strong political influence. For a starter, we have the revered Pres. Cory Aquino, Sen. Noynoy Aquino and the NPC Chairman Emeritus Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, who is financing another 2010 presidentiable- Se. Chiz Escudero. Among the three, Cory was said to have fascinated the entire state. In fact, the charm of Cory, as hard it is to admit had helped bury the Hacienda Luisita caboodle. The public got drunk of the EDSA-1 victory over the despotic Marcoses that the landlord-tenant tragedy in Tarlac was made politically insignificant.

The 6,400 hectare azucarera owned by the Cojuango’s was bought of the 5.9 million peso loan of Don Jose Cojuangco in the 1950s. As stipulated on Don Jose’s agreement with the Government Service Insurance System or (GSIS), around 4,000 ha of the hacienda should have been apportioned to its tenants. But fortunately, Cojuangco chose to bend the agreement for their advantage. And this was evident just as the widow of Se. Ninoy Aquino and champion of EDSA-1 assumed the presidency. No matter how the Cojuangco’s deny the obvious exploitation of the executive privileges particularly as one of their heiress was seated in power, evidence of injustice and clear manhandling of the then celebrated case of the government against the owners of Luisita could not just be swept under the rug.

Former MAR or Ministry of Agrarian Reform (better known today as the Department of Agrarian Reform or DAR) officials to include Jose Santos who assisted in the filing of the civil case against the Cojuangco’s under the Manila RTC claimed that the court would have favored the complaining farmers of Luisita. All the right evidence is actually in place except for the “ignoble” exploitation of the 1986’s shift of political leadership that favored the Cojuangco’s. Pres. Aquino overhauled MAR that included the ascension of the Cojuangco’s legal counsel- Sedfrey Ordoñez as Solicotor General. The shift of power that included an “expected” revamp in the very agency that forcefully pushed for the civil case against the Cojuangco’s was the very reason why the Hacienda Luisita legal thug met its stalemate. So far, greater injustice other than a buy-out in MAR took place. This had to do with the creation of CARP or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program that more or less grabbed the Luisita farmers of their right to own a piece of abode.

Hacienda Luisita among everything else was Pres. Cory’s unpopular “oversight”. And apparently, the Filipinos who paid no interest on the Hacienda Luisita’s case were partly to be blamed.

The November 2004 “blood-spill” in Hacienda Luisita strikes a chord of feudal lords’ repression. Poor farmers who chose death as leverage for a piece of land show frantic desperation. The vast azucarera which was bought out people’s money is now being greedily milked by a few discontented well-offs. And just what an odd scene it is for another Cojuangco heir to claim that he is symbol of just change and victor of the oppressed. How would a man claim that he can clean an entire country of prejudice when he condones it right at his very backyard? Political power is no match to public will. The 2010 presidency should not be made as another scapegoat for the Cojuangco’s to relive their CARP and once again deny the Luisita farmers of their right.

Mga Isyung kinakaharap ni Noynoy Aquino

Nagiging usap usapan na at laman ng ibat ibang pahayagan,radio at internet ang pangalan ni Noynoy Aquino hindi lamang dahil sa puspusang pagpapalabas ng kanyang “sponsored advertisements” sa mga tv stations kundi dahil sa pagkakabuhay sa isyu ng mga magsasaka at Hacienda Luisita.

Matapos magdeklara ng kanyang pagtakbo sa pagka presidente sa darating na eleksiyon, kasabay nito ang pag anunsyo ni Noynoy ng kanyang balak na pagbitiw sa Hacienda Luisita ngunit makalipas ang isang buwan nang lumipas ang binigay na palugit ng naturang hacienda sa mga magsasaka noong Oktubre 31 na lisanin ang lupain na kinatitirikan ng kanilang tahanan ay wala paring nagagawa ang butihing Senador.

Kaugnay sa usaping ito, isa na namang isyu ang mangangaladkad sa pinapabangong pangalan ng Presidentiable matapos ang pagkaka ugnay ng isa sa kanyang security aide sa kasong frustrated murder na inapilahang muling bubuksan ng mga kasamang manggagawa ng mga biktima ng pamamaril na sina George Loveland, Ernesto Ramos and Malou Ricardo noong Enero 05, 1985 sa mismong pultahan ng Hacienda Luisita. Ang pagdawit ng mga umapila sa pangalan ni Noynoy ay dahil sa wala diumano itong hakbang na isinagawa matapos ang pamamaril at pagkakapatay sa mga trabahante ng naturang hacienda sa kabila ng kanyang presensya sa naturang insidente. Ayon sa isinagawang salaysay ng mga testigo, nakita pa diumano nila ang Senador na noon ay isang kongresista pa lamang, sakay ng Nissan Patrol SUV papasok sa naturang hacienda bago ang pangyayari.

Ang walang awang pagpatay sa tatlong manggagawa ay nag ugat sa sigalot ng mga manggagawa at ng pamunuan ng Hacienda Luisita sa lupaing ipinaglalaban ng nga maralitang magsasaka. Sa pagbubukas ni Noynoy ng kanyang pinto bilang public personality ay umaakibat dito ang paglantad ng ibat ibang isyung kanyang kasasangkutan lalo sa isyung kaugnay sa Hacienda Luisita.

Laman din ng mga speeches ni Noynoy ang pagbibigay nya ng tugon at solusyon sa suliranin ng mga magsasaka ng Hacienda Luisita KUNG siya raw ay mananalo sa pagka Presidente. Panibagog pangako na naman para sa mga umaasang magsasaka. Papano kung hindi siya papalaring maging Pangulo? Ito nga ba ang mga dahilan kung kayat bumulusok paibaba ang popularity rating ng nangungunang Presidentiable ayon sa isang independent survey?

Maaring nakaapekto ang mga isyung ito lalo pa’t hindi lamang ang mga lipon ng magsasaka ang nakatutok kundi maging ang buong sambayanang Pilipino. Sa mga naging karanasan ng bansang Pilipinas sa nagdaang mga unos. Kailangang maging matalino at responsible sa pagpili ng pinuno. Ang Hacienda Luisita ay kapiranggot lamang na parte ng Pilipinas na hindi mabigyan ng kaagarang aksyon sa mga suliranin ng nasasakupan. Paano na lang kaya ang buong bansa?

THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

(Neri as essential element to bring TRG back to life)

No less than the good senator- Panfilo “Ping” Lacson is doing everything to bring back to life the Transition Revolutionary Government (TRG) and do whatever possible means to ensure political victory over the so-called seditious power takeover in Malacañang.

The shooting incident at the residence of Social Security System Pres. Romulo Neri last October 09 is one of the bunches of tricks Lacson orchestrated a political caboodle in order to obliterate our political system. Obviously, such was a calculated scenario so that the public will link such an occurrence to the anomalous ZTE-NBN anomalous contract against the administration. Getting an outpour of public outrage as planned by the said abductors of Neri actually involves forcing the SSS Pres. to incriminate the Arroyos on the crime through an anonymously media-tipped video.

Accordingly, the supposed kidnapping of Neri was financed by the Opposition which also includes a purchase of a 100 thousand peso abandoned warehouse in Pampanga, where Neri was supposed to have been kept. And such an occurrence would be an initial salvo to resurrect the Transition Revolutionary Government or (TRG).

Apart from the plan to oust President Gloria Arroyo in the Palace, the 12-paged TRG proposal in 2008 also includes a plan to set up a military-led ad hoc government. As such, it will create a temporary governing body that would establish a Council ruled indefinitely by the Head of State which was most likely to be personified by Lacson, as revealed in the said proposal given among active AFP and PNP generals last year. It was disclosed further that as he shadow-leads the caretaker government, he shall dictate the course of action the selected Council will make out of a “renovated” constitution. This will give him a crafted “political will” to give out political privileges and perks in favor of his comrades in the opposition.

Obviously though, the very reason why Lacson ceased to run for 2010 presidential race because he has yet to start a stronger political warfare that spells takeover of power- such that of the TRG which started to discretely gain supporters from both the Communist underground and those streaming from Rightist destabilizers. As sourced, the Opposition, through Lacson doled-out huge amount of money to back-up the establishment of the seditious TRG, which met its downfall early this year as it major financiers focused on “electioneering” instead. The more apparent reason for the withdrawal of TRG had been an unstable support base that is prepared to force Pres. Arroyo out of her presidency- that is, as people started questioning whether there is a truth of Arroyo perpetuating herself to power through Charter Change or CHACHA. As CHACHA left the front page, TRG slowly died with it.

Indeed, Lacson is doing everything to resurrect and redeem the rotting TRG. His apparent involvement on the would-be abduction of Neri was orchestrated in order to ignite public’s emotions and air grievances against the government. Perhaps, Lacson knows well enough that he is running out of good cards to bargain with his prompting implication in the Dacer-Corbito murder case. This is how he dubiously plays the game- charming the masses with his ill-fated political tricks just to let TRG to sink in every Juan Dela Cruz’ system. This is his one way of gaining power while discreetly killing our future. Will you allow this to happen?

PEACE AT LAST…FEAR NO MORE!

“I can now play safely and freely in the fields while I watch my parents plowing our farmland without fear of being hurt or harassed by bad guys!”, says an eight-year old Mary Mae Rebado of Brgy. Gubatan of Magpet town in North Cotabato. Her parents, Rudy and Rema said they had been enduring a restful environment with the presence of government troops securing the whole town of Magpet.

“Their presence really helped us through with our daily routines especially that we attend to our farm fields everyday. All our sweats paid off knowing the fact that we got what we’ve worked hard for during harvest seasons” Rema said owing their security to the state forces, particularly the 57th IB present in their barangay. Her husband, Rudy disclosed that said troops helped in the reactivation of the barangay defense system which is vital in maintaining peace and security in the area. “The troops taught us on the basics of security measures and defense structures which is very instrumental in minimizing untoward circumstances in our barangay” he said. In fact, violent incidents have tremendously decreased Magpet town since defense system was reactivated in the majority of its barangays.

Meanwhile, Mayor Romulo Tagpos of Arakan, North Cotabato lauded the presence of army’s 57th IB in his town saying that the troops’ deployment has decreased communist insurgencies in Arakan. He noted that almost 400 lumads from the villages of Sto. Niño, Tumanding, Mari Caridad, Kinawayan, Kabantian, Duruluman, and Malibatuan all of Arakan town left their homes when Reds continuously harassed them.

Enrique Kewing, a Manobo from Brgy. Durulaman stated that they have now returned to their respective houses upon learning that government forces have been deployed in their barangay. “We can sleep comfortably every night because we know that we are now safe”, he said. Mr. Kewing also disclosed that majority of the barangay officials and residents recently wrote a petition for the retention of army’s 57th IB in the area.

Mayor Tagpos stated that the absence of government troops in most areas of Arakan will surely pose a threat to the security and safety of his constituents as Reds will again resume its hostile activities. He further said that the deployment of the troops in his town was based on the persistent request of local and tribal leaders of his municipality purposely to ensure safety of all the constituents. He also said that the military’s deployment in the area has neither political color nor giving protection in favor of some multi-national investors. “They are just here to serve and secure our people”, the Municipal Chief Executive said.

“The troops also help in the fast and timely delivery of various services of our municipal council while they secure vital installation of my town. In fact, they are very instrumental in the success of the Water System Development Project-Level II in Sitio Guitawan, Poblacion, Arakan which was recently turned-over by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the Local Government Unit of Arakan”, Mayor Tagpos added.

PGMA VISITS BANISILAN

Kidapawan City- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo arrived in North Cotabato to visit Barangay Malinao, Banisilan as she led the inauguration of the 2.7 kilometer completed section of the Banisilan-Guiling-Alamada-Libungan Road Network Concreting Project last November 04, 2009.
The P67 million road project was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 12 under its Regular Infra Program. The completion of the road concreting project is part of the President’s mandate to fast track all infrastructure projects before her term ends in 2010. The department however assures that quality and road safety was given utmost importance despite fast-track mode.
President Arroyo personally checks all her infrastructure projects to make sure her legacy are completed before she bows out of office. Her infra development programs aim to link up urban and rural economies and spur growth nationwide. In Banisilan, the road project will speed up travel and the transportation of agricultural products and other goods and services going to the provinces of Lanao del Sur and Bukidnon.
Meanwhile, the people of Banisilan expressed their gratitude to the good President as she awarded livelihood assistance to some of the residents in Barangay Malinao which includes a check worth P125,000 to each beneficiary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)- Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP).
The President also turned over the Department of Agriculture (DA) certificates of forty (40) units of Community-Based Composting Facility (CBCF) for the province of North Cotabato amounting to P14 million under the Organic Fertilizer Production Project-Region 12 to Gov. Sacdalan while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) received 1,000 mahogany seedlings in support to the tree planting activities in the said municipality.
Ms. Leizl Fernando, president of the Thailand Self-Employment Assistance para sa Kaunlaran Program (SEA-K) was granted a micro-finance project to help small scale businessmen such as canteen vendors and skylab drivers. Fernando thanked the President as it helps more Banisilan residents especially the poor ones.
The President was welcomed by North Cotabato Governor Jesus Sacdalan, 1st District Representative Emmylou Taliño Mendoza, Banisilan Mayor Betty Allado, Brgy Malinao Chairman Rogel Balibadlan, DPWH Region 12 Director Sinaolan Macarambon, PNP Cotabato Provincial Director S/Supt Norberto batislaong and 602nd Brigade Commander Col Alexander Estomo.

ANG HINAHARAP NG MAGSASAKANG PILIPINO SA KAMAY NI NOYNOY AQUINO

Posibleng hindi makakakuha ng sento porsyentong suporta si Senador Noynoy Aquino mula sa mga magsasaka sa darating na eleksiyon kung patuloy na mananahimik at iiwasan ng nasabing presidentiable ang isyung tumutukoy sa paghahati ng ekta-ektaryang lupain sa Hacienda Luisita na pagmamay ari ng pamilyang Cojuangco.
Ang nasabing kontrobersiya ay patungkol sa lupang ibabahagi sa mga magsasakang nagtatrabaho dito. Ang hasyenda ay nagsasaklaw ng 6,453 ektaryang lupain na kung saan ang malaking bahagi nito ay mapupunta sa mga magsasaka. Ito ang bagay na dapat bibigyang pansin ng Senador sapagkat ano mang maling hakbangin o desisyong kanyang isasagawa ayon sa pagbibigay palugit ng Hacienda Luisita Incorporated sa mga manggagawang magsasaka na lisanin ang naturang hasyenda ay makakaapekto sa pagkamit ng kanyang inaasam bilang isang kandidato ng pagka pangulo. Una nang ipinahayag ng nasabing mambabatas ang kanyang pagbibitiw sa HLI pabor sa mga magsasaka ngunit kabaliktaran ito sa kanyang mga kinikilos sa ngayon. Tila hindi kayang isagawa ng Senador ang kanyang mga binitiwang salita dahil sa mga pakabig nitong pahayag lalo na sa pasaring na diumano’y maliit na share ng pamilyang Aquino at ang paluging estado ng nasabing lupain.
Sa pananaw ng nakararami, hindi sapat ang pagpapahayag ni Noynoy sa kanyang hangaring maipamahagi ang hasyenda sapagkat wala naman siyang matibay na hakbang na ginagawa para maitupad ito. Kung iisipin, matagal na panahon nang dapat pinapakinabangan ng mga pobreng magsasaka ang lupaing ipinangako sa kanila ni Don Jose Cojuangco na may kaakibat na legal na kasunduan sa gobyerno noong 1958. Ayon sa kasunduan, ang pagpapahiram sa matandang Cojuangco ng US $2,128,480 ng gobyerno mula sa kaban ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas at ng Government Service Insurance system (GSIS) ay kapalit ng pamamahagi ng Hacienda Luisita sa mga maliliit na magsasakang nagsisilbi dito ayon sa umiiral na social justice program ng gobyerno ng panahong iyon. Bukod pa rito ang mariing pag utos ng Manila regional Trial Court XLIII noong Disyembre 2, 1985 sa pamamahagi ng apat na libong hektarya ng Hacienda Luisita sa mga magsasakang naninirahan dito.
Malinaw na nararapat lamang na mapunta sa mga magsasaka ang malaking bahagi ng naturang hasyenda na sinang-ayunan pa mismo ng dating pangulong Cory Aquino na kung saan nagbigay din ng kanyang pangakong isasama ang plantasyon ng asukal sa ilalim ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) sa ilalim ng kanyang administrasyon noong 1986. Sa kabila ng pangakong ito, hindi pa rin nabigyang katuparan ang pamamahagi sapagkat ginawang korporasyon ng pamilya Cojuangco ang Hacienda Luisita at ang mga kaawa awang magsasaka ay ginawa lamang stock holders na mas lalong nagpahirap sa kanilang buhay. Hindi ba pagpapaikot lamang at pangakong napako ang nakamit ng mga magsasakang namuhunan ng dugo at pawis sa lupaing ito?
Ang pamilya Cojuangco na kinabibilangan ni Senador Noynoy Aquino, ay obligadong ipamahagi ang lupain ng Hacienda Luisita, na nararapat para sa maralitang magsasaka. Hindi mapapakain ng pangako ang mga pamilya ng mga mgasasakang ito. Kung talagang nais tumulong ni Noynoy na maiangat ang antas ng pamumuhay ng mga Pilipino lalo na ng mahihirap, dapat lang na simulan nito sa kanyang bakuran. Hindi lamang puro pagpapakitang gilas sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay pangako ang kanyang gagawin kundi pagbibigay katuparan sa mga pangakong ito. Hindi nya magagamit ang isyu ng Hacienda Luisita sa paglikom ng boto mula sa magsasaka. Alalahanin nya, ang mga magsasaka ng Hacienda Luisita ay iilan lamang na sumisimbolo sa milyong magsasaka sa buong bansa. Nakatuon ang pansin ng mga ito sa maging hakbangin ni Noynoy lalo pat Lupang Sinasaka ang pinag uusapan.

ROXAS’ BACKERS NAILING NOYNOY’S CANDIDACY?

Financial backers of former 2010 presidential candidate, Sen Manuel Roxas is out to nail Noynoy Aquino with the supposed blessing of an influential civil society group. The holdup on Aquino’s career was helped by few dissatisfied members of the Liberal Party (LP) who thinks that the Aquino clan has been the sole determining force behind Noynoy’s possible entry to Malacañang. Too much on-hand babysitting from Noynoy’s siblings was said to have pushed-back other influential political tycoons that are willing to take his candidacy to another notch.

The decision of Roxas to stand-down from the executive race was not just for the sake of “reform”. It was because LP welcomed the idea of having a far winnable bet to take-out Erap Estrada and Manny Villar. No matter how LP claimed their slate roulette was based, the public would not be too naïve at ignoring the idea that TRAPOs swarming inside the Aquino camp are simply testing the waters to see how long the Cory “magic” will last and as to how far Roxas will ride on the Party’s decision to cast him aside.

But as sources say, the multi-million spenders behind Roxas’ ads wanted more than fiddling a “second best”. They desire to bag the presidency and they will have it one way or another. Even if this means throwing unfavorable tides back against the Aquinos. The groups are determined to divide LP’s resolve on Noynoy’s candidacy. And they are having the “charitable” funding of renowned civil society groups to include the ones under Dinky Soliman.

This is how dirty politics work. Not even purists like members of the civil society are immune to it; particularly those with huge bundle of millions betted on one “presidential” stallion like Roxas. This group claims that Noynoy is too weak of a character that hides behind his sisters’ skirts. By the time he possibly gets elected he would not be pursuing LP’s wishes but of his family’s. That would alienate the TRAPOs who went beyond their ego to rally behind Noynoy. Their sacrifices would not be rewarded in terms they have imagined. So, the next best thing would be Roxas.

Scenarios of backstabbing that could seize Noynoy’s ascendancy to the executive post were long predicted by the masses. The “hero in a day” tale of Noynoy was not made out of people’s confidence. It was mustered out of the sympathies pouring-in for the revered former Pres. Cory Aquino. The fluidity of people’s trust on Noynoy not as the son of Cory but a probable president at his own right is now being goaded by Roxas’ frustrated supporters. They are plotting to exploit Noynoy’s feebleness and use it to boost Roxas back up.

But interestingly, neither Noynoy nor Mar is making a move against such torrent pour of treachery sinking in LP. As detesting it is to admit, this gives us a clearer picture of just what LP presidentiables could offer. One is a president who depends on his family name and the other a president stringed to his “advisors”. The upshot would always involve Filipinos either swimming in instability or else drowning on opportunist TRAPOs.

PAMAMARIL SA BAHAY NI NERI

Sino ang may kasalanan?

Kasalukuyang nasa state of calamity ang kabuuang Metro Manila at ibang parte ng Luzon dahil sa delubyong dulot ng bagyong Ondoy at Pepeng ng isang pangyayari ang gumulantang sa bahay ni Social Security Sytem (SSS) Secretary Romulo Neri sa Quezon City. Ilang linggo pa lamang ang nakakalipas ng paulanan ng putok ang bahay ni Neri ng mga hindi kilalalang armadong lalaki noong umaga ng Oktubre 09, 2009. Ayon sa mga naulat, wala namang sibilyan ang nasaktan sa insidente. Si Neri ay nakilala at naging kontrobersiyal dahil sa kanyang pagkakadawit sa multi-milyong dolyar na NBN-ZTE deal. Kung iisipin, marahil ang isyung ito ay isa sa mga posibleng dahilan sa nasabing pangyayari.
Ayon kay Neri, wala umano siyang natatanggap na banta kaya wala siyang ideya kung sino ang nasa likod ng pamamaril sa kanyang bahay. Wala nga ba talaga siyang kaaway? O baka marahil isa lamang itong palabas?
Maraming kuro-kuro at haka-haka sa mga posibleng dahilan ng pamamaril sa bahay ni Neri. Ang ilan ay nagsasabi na ito lamang ay pakulo ng gobyerno upang hindi matuloy ang nalalapit na eleksyon. At ang ilan naman ay inihahalintulad ang mga pangyayari sa naganap na pagbobomba ng sasakyan ni Enrile na sinundan ng pagdedeklera ng Martial Law noong 1972. Ngunit ano ba talaga ang katotohanan sa likod ng pag-atake kay Neri?
Kaduda-duda ang mga sinasabi ni Neri sa isang interbyu sa kanya. Ayon sa kanya, kasalukuyan siyang naliligo bilang paghahanda sa pagpasok sa opisina. Narinig niya ang ingay sa labas ng kanyang bahay at inakalang mga mesa lamang iyon na nahulog. Ang putok ba ng baril na tinatayang 100 bala ang nakita sa bahay ni Neri ay kasing-tunog lang na ng mga mesang nalalaglag?
May mga naglabasang ulat na sinasabing balak talagang dukutin si Neri. Ito ay upang puwersahin siyang pagsalitain patungkol sa kanyang mga nalalaman sa NBN-ZTE deal. Kung totoo nga ang mga ito, panibagong destabilisasyon ang nakaandang para sa kasalukuyang administrasyon. Posible na ang pangyayaring ito ay simula pa lamang ng kaguluhan na kakaharapin ni Pangulong Arroyo bago matapos ang kanyang termino.
Hindi umano, ang hinihinalang grupo na sumalakay at pinagbabaril ang bahay ng naturang kalihim ng SSS ay ang pinakamahusay na grupong Ilonggo-Kapampangan. May isang malaking tao sa likod ng pangyayari na nag-utos at nag-plano upang takutin si Neri. Ang utak ng lahat ay walang iba kundi si Senador Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. At dahil sa mga patuloy na kaguluhang nangyayari sa bansa, malamang matuloy ang isinusulong niyang Transitional Revolutionary Government (TRG).

OPPOSITION STAGED NERI’S FOILED ABDUCTION?

Threats on Social Security System (SSS) Pres. Romulo Neri are more likely politically provoked, minding the rumored plot to get him to squeal on the NBN-ZTE controversy. Apparently, the incident in his residence in Palila St, Brgy Siena Quezon City last October 09 was part of the pressuring ingredient to have him jump ship. Logically, this would ordinarily be members of the anti-Gloria aficcionados who had long been brandishing that they could get Neri to “talk”. Sadly, this had nothing to do with truth and justice. Rather, an opportunity to stall the forthcoming elections by creating a critical scenario to push another EDSA revolt where one TRAPO could seat himself in power yet again.

As sourced out, the armed men who fired upon Neri’s residence actually brought with them sledge hammers (maso) meant for a break-in. They were ordered to drag Neri out of the house and keep him at a safehouse near Pampanga. The Ilonggo-Kapampangan group who actuated the foiled kidnapping was to stage a live video feed where Neri would divulge incriminating testimonials against the Arroyos. This was to revive the allegations of Engr. Noel “Jun” Lozada and help pin-down the incumbent and compel it to vacate Malacañang the soonest time with the public’s consent.

People behind the said scheme to unseat the presidency and cut out the nearing elections were apparently the same group of erring TRAPOs pushing for the Transition Revolutionary Government or (TRG). Neri’s possible indirect involvement in the grounding of TRG could easily be relegated as an antic to ride on public skepticism and create a critical mass that would support another EDSA revolt. The grand mobilization against the Arroyos would be coupled with an armed takeover or coup d’état that would later institute a caretaker government that would be headed by a selected few called the Transition Council, which would again later select among themselves a single ruler as the Head of State.

Emptying Malacañang and ending Arroyo’s administration have always been a doing of the Opposition. Not just any members of the Political Opposition but personas directly involved with the Left or the Communist faction and a few civil “reformists”. The claim of resisting Arroyo’s possible stay in power through TRG and reforming the state by overhauling the constitution with a caretaker government is merely propaganda. The intention behind the 2008 crafted TRG proposal was actually to seize state power and prompt Sen. Panfilo Lacson in power. According to the 12-paged TRG proposal used to discretely court active military generals, Lacson will serve as its shadow ruler. As such, people behind TRG are willing to put out political stunts that involve violent thrust are meaning to cause uproar and simultaneously “sweeten” Lacson’s name. This is probably the reason why Lacson had interestingly severed his ties with the Estradas in a chase to clear his name off the Dacer-Corbito murder wrap.

This runs true with the parallel effort of Lacson to look good for the masses as he actually contrived with other groups off those who recently attempted to kidnap Neri. The plot was to trigger the NBN controversy yet again to make the needed critical mass. Lacson financed said crack to amplify his ambition to bag the presidency at haste and finally pocket his involvement in the celebrated Dacer killing. It seems Lacson is willing to go through any lengths and millions to win Malacañang through TRG with Neri as guinea pig.

TRAPOS ARE TESTING THE WATERS FOR NOYNOY-MAR CANDIDACY

As we feel the heating beat of 2010 polls, we also see personalities running here and there in order to cope up with the electrifying rhythm of the forthcoming electoral process, especially those that prey on “winnable tandems” such that of Senators Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas. And the picture speaks so clearly: frustrated financial backers of Roxas who went beyond their means are out to pin-down Noynoy’s ascendancy to Malacañang while the displeased members of the Liberal Party (LP) doubted Noynoy’s motivation in bagging the executive post.

Accordingly, the financial backers of the former presidential hopeful Sen. Manuel Roxas is out to pin-down Noynoy Aquino with the supposed blessing of an influential civil society group. Disgruntled members of the LP had one way or another helped in the glitch of Aquino’s career, doubting Noynoy’s motivation in assuming the highest political seat was all for Aquinos’ sake.

The decision of Roxas to quit from the presidential race was not just for the sake of “reform”. Obviously, LP accepted the fact that having the Noynoy-Mar tandem would be invincible that it could eventually take a political victory over Erap Estrada and Manny Villar. This political ploy by no less than the “struggling” LP gives the public a far better clear picture that indeed TRAPOs are simply testing the waters to see how long the Cory “magic” will last and as to how far Roxas will ride on the Party’s decision to cast him aside.

Sources further disclosed that the monetary supporters of Roxas wanted more than cheating a “second best”. They actually yearn to bag the presidency and they will have it one way or another and even at the expense of the Aquinos. The groups are determined to divide LP’s resolve on Noynoy’s candidacy. And they are having the “charitable” funding of renowned civil society groups to include the ones under Dinky Soliman.

Philippine politics is yet again tainted by ill-fated political personalities who are enticed with rotten self-interests- and even purists like members of the civil society are not an exception; especially those with superfluous monetary machinery used in tossing up one presidential bet like Roxas. They insinuate that Noynoy’s motivation in running for the presidential race was made out of his family’s will and not with what the LP has orchestrated and imagined- evidently, backstabbing the Cory’s “only begotten son”. Such a scenario is inevitable, especially that it’s all about power and authority to lead a state. Obviously, the “Noynoy mania” was not made out of public’s confidence but instead drawn from his mother – the well-regarded former President Cory Aquino, whose charm greatly influence most of the Filipinos. The fluidity of people’s trust on Noynoy not as the son of Cory but a probable president at his own right is now being goaded by Roxas’ frustrated supporters. They plan to abuse Noynoy’s weakness and use it to boost Roxas’political maneuvering.

Almost every election, politicians and their preying advisors are up to show their best and “magnificently” persuade the voting public with their “out-of-this-world” political platforms. Undeniably, ours is a kind of politics with various political rhythm dubiously composed by no less than opportunist TRAPOs. And sadly, Noynoy and Mar unwittingly dance in this fiasco with us drowning for instability and vague future. Will you allow this to happen?

IDPs FEAR MILF DESPITE CEASEFIRE

Despite a temporary truce in effect in Central Mindanao, some 200,000 villagers who fled their homes are still too scared to return to their homes saying that evacuation centers are the safest haven for them. Their fears persisted even though local officials tried to persuade them that it was safe to go back to their homes in the provinces of Maguindanao and North Cotabato following the declaration of temporary ceasefire.

“Fear and apprehension still hound us”, said Nohalima Sambolawan, an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao where many villagers remain in evacuation centers. “We feel that anytime soon, the MILF will again wreak havoc on our villages, burn our houses and loot our animals. we still We feel we are not safe to go back to our houses and we’d rather stay here in the evacuation center”, she added.

Combined reports and data from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regions 12 and ARMM show that there were about 200,000 people displaced by the fighting that broke out in August 2008 after guerrillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) occupied several villages in this downtrodden Southern Philippines.

Evacuees who flocked several evacuation centers in Maguindanao are complaining that the Moro rebels have been occupying their farmlands, looted livestock animals and burned several houses. “How can we go back to our houses when our safety and security are at stake? The rebels had gotten everything from us…what else is left for us?” said Abdullah Paguital in teary-eyes and trembling voice.

The statements of Nohalina Sambolawan and Abdullah Paguital ae in total contrast to the statement of Atty. Zainudin Malang of the Bangsamoro Lawyers’ Network (BLN) who earlier accused the government forces of emotional, physical and economic abuses against the evacuees in the restive South. Malang made such statement during a conference with the European Union envoys in Cotabato City, recently.

Various local and international aid groups and humanitarian watchers, including local government officials said that apart from their apprehension on the possible outbreak of MILF-initiated carnages against civilian populace, cases of rido-related conflict could seem inevitable to occur. “There will be a renewed fighting between feuding families once they get back to their places and this would eventually lead into another mass displacement”, says an international crisis monitor.

Aside from these reasons, local government officials noted that the evacuees have found a new business venture inside the IDP camp where food rations from different aid groups and local government units are sold at “affordable prices”. "Our assistance is not enough and we are aware of that, but our evacuees took advantage of the situation and made this a part of their daily routine now for whatever it’s worth”, the Municipal Social worker of Mamasapano said in an interview.

The World Food Programme and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) as well as the international and Philippine offices of the Red Cross have helped the government by distributing food, water, and other relief supplies to the evacuees.#

Why Am I Here???

Crowded makeshift shanties, flies and cockroaches, children whose faces are griming in pain with some of them can not even wash their faces, but their eyes seems to glow in the presence of these foreigners, children, parents and old constituents mostly women are smiling, all smiling because just a few meters away from their makeshifts houses are three (3) ten wheeler trucks loaded with rice, cooking oils and ready –to-eat noodles with canned goods. These are just a few sights I encountered during the recent visit of European Union delegations in different evacuation centers of IDPs in Maguindanao Province.

In the midst of this “Operation Tulong sa Bakwits” lies a big question among the delegation of the EU, “Why the IDPs are still in the evacuation centers”? and why does their numbers increased in-spite of the pronouncements from the MILF hierarchy of their “Suspension of Military Actions” (SUMA) and the AFP of the Suspension of the Military Operations” (SUMO).

In response to these questions, the representatives of the political leadership of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao cited that, the IDPs prefers to stay in the evacuation centers because they (IDPs) can not hold on to the pronouncement of SUMO and SUMA, and that their houses were been burned by the operating government troops in their areas of origin.

This kind of irresponsible media pronouncements/responses coming from our very own local government officials put the AFP and the government in general in bad light, it seems to me that the AFP units deployed in the war-torn areas were responsible for the IDPs not returning home, but if we just analyzed and dig deeper into this problem, there is something fishy about it, first and foremost, most if not all of these evacuees/IDPs were families and relatives of MILF regulars. Since the skirmishes began between the government forces and the MILF, there were no reported burning incident done by the military, however, feuding families who are both elements of 105th and 108th Base Commands of the MILF burned about 10 shanties in the outskirts of Talayan, Maguindanao sometime in the month of March 2008. Secondly, the pouring-out of donations and cash from donor countries seem to-be “sobra-sobra” in which case, some of these relief goods are being sold-out to public markets surrounding the evacuation centers. Thirdly, some politicians are making good money out of these evacuees, kung baga eh pinakikinabangan nila ang presensya ng mga bakwits bakit nila ito pauuwiin? Ano ba yan???

I understand that there are peculiarities in the areas dominated by the MILF however, this question remains in my mind, “Are they used to easy money? Or it is just a part of their culture of being lazy? Letting the government feed them? Or its just a plain and simple manipulation of the rich over the poor inhabitants surrounding the Liguasan Marsh ? ? ?

DEPED to Improve Basic Education for Children in ARMM

The Department of Education has strengthened its campaign to improve the quality of education in the impoverished region all over the country. In Mindanao, with the support of the Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID) through the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM), poor access of children to basic education especially in ARMM has been responded with the Distance Learning Program (DLP) in the region.

Recently, BEAM and with some DepED officials distributed an independent and self-paced modules and school supplies under its Component 3-Increasing Access project which seeks to grant opportunities for the school age children in the elementary level starting at grade 3 to grade 6 from far-flung and poor areas. There were eight elementary schools have benefited by the said project namely Datu Gumbay Piang Elementary School of Datu Piang, Dapiawan Elementary School and Libutan Elementary School of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Kalumamis Elementary School of Guindulungan, Pandan Elementary School of South Upi, Malangit Elementary School of Mamasapano, Bobo Elementary School and Piagapo Central elementary School of Piagapo Lanao del Sur. More than 500 larning modules were given to every school, 5 copies per learning area (English, Math, Science, Filipino and Makabayan), per grade level (grade 3 to 6) and per grading period (1st to 4th grading) with a total of 35,000 modules were already distributed.

This approach serves to support the government’s effort to improve the standard of learning and to provide better education by enhancing the quality of knowledge of students mainly in poor and conflict-affected areas. Such undertaking will address those school children who were mostly in drop out cases and absenteeism due to their distant residences from school or working in farms with their parents. Children with physical difficulties and impairments are also eligible with the program.

DepEd also recognized the region’s need of additional school buildings and furniture because of the increasing population of students as well as the replacement of classrooms damaged by internal conflict in the area. DepEd secretary Lesli Lapus emphasized the immediate implementation of the project as part of the pump-priming program of the national government as mandated by Pres. Arroyo to all government agencies implementing infrastructure projects.

Moreover, ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan recurrently lauds the said efforts in helping the regional government on its quest for affordable, accessible and quality education to poor students in remote areas in the autonomous region.

DEPED to Improve Basic Education for Children in ARMM

The Department of Education has strengthened its campaign to improve the quality of education in the impoverished region all over the country. In Mindanao, with the support of the Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAID) through the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM), poor access of children to basic education especially in ARMM has been responded with the Distance Learning Program (DLP) in the region.

Recently, BEAM and with some DepED officials distributed an independent and self-paced modules and school supplies under its Component 3-Increasing Access project which seeks to grant opportunities for the school age children in the elementary level starting at grade 3 to grade 6 from far-flung and poor areas. There were eight elementary schools have benefited by the said project namely Datu Gumbay Piang Elementary School of Datu Piang, Dapiawan Elementary School and Libutan Elementary School of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Kalumamis Elementary School of Guindulungan, Pandan Elementary School of South Upi, Malangit Elementary School of Mamasapano, Bobo Elementary School and Piagapo Central elementary School of Piagapo Lanao del Sur. More than 500 larning modules were given to every school, 5 copies per learning area (English, Math, Science, Filipino and Makabayan), per grade level (grade 3 to 6) and per grading period (1st to 4th grading) with a total of 35,000 modules were already distributed.

This approach serves to support the government’s effort to improve the standard of learning and to provide better education by enhancing the quality of knowledge of students mainly in poor and conflict-affected areas. Such undertaking will address those school children who were mostly in drop out cases and absenteeism due to their distant residences from school or working in farms with their parents. Children with physical difficulties and impairments are also eligible with the program.

DepEd also recognized the region’s need of additional school buildings and furniture because of the increasing population of students as well as the replacement of classrooms damaged by internal conflict in the area. DepEd secretary Lesli Lapus emphasized the immediate implementation of the project as part of the pump-priming program of the national government as mandated by Pres. Arroyo to all government agencies implementing infrastructure projects.

Moreover, ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan recurrently lauds the said efforts in helping the regional government on its quest for affordable, accessible and quality education to poor students in remote areas in the autonomous region.

FEAR PERSISTS IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES DESPITE TEMPORARY CEASEFIRE

Despite the deferment of military offensives in Central Mindanao, some 200,000 villagers who fled their homes were still too sacred to return to their respective homes saying that evacuation centers are the safest haven for them. Their fears persisted even though local officials tried to persuade them that it was safe to go back to their homes in the provinces of Maguindanao and North Cotabato following the declaration of temporary ceasefire.

“Fear and apprehension still hound us”, said Nohalima Sambolawan, an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao where many villagers remain in evacuation centers. “Despite good gesture of the MILF in reciprocating government’s suspension of military operations (SOMO), we still feel we are not safe to go back to our houses and we’d rather stay here in the evacuation center”, she added.

Combined reports and data from the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regions 12 and ARMM show that there were about 200,000 (44,000) families) people displaced by the fighting that broke out in August 2008 after guerrillas of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) occupied several villages in this downtrodden Southern Philippines. These displaced villagers are still staying in the 65 evacuation centers or with relatives despite assurances that it is safe to go home.

Evacuees who flocked several evacuation centers in Maguindanao have complained that the moro rebels have been occupying their farmlands, looted some livestock animals and burned several houses. “How can we go back to our houses when our safety and security are at stake? The rebels had gotten everything from us…what else is left for us?” said Abdullah Paguital in teary-eyes and trembling voice and actually refuted the statement of Atty. Zainudin Malang of the Bangsamoro Lawyers’ Network (BLN) who earlier accused the government forces of emotional, physical and economic abuses against the evacuees in the restive South. Malang made such statement during a conference with the European Union envoys in Cotabato City, recently.

Various local and international aid groups and humanitarian watchers, including local government officials said that apart from their apprehension on the possible outbreak of MILF-initiated carnages against civilian populace, cases of rido-related conflict could seem inevitable to occur. “There will be a renewed fighting between feuding families once they get back to their places and this would eventually lead into another mass displacement”, says an international crisis monitor.

Aside from these reasons, local government officials noted that the evacuees have found a new business venture inside the IDP camp where food rations from different aid groups and local government units are sold at “affordable prices”. "Our assistance is not enough and we are aware of that, but our evacuees took advantage of the situation and made this a part of their daily routine now for whatever it’s worth”, the Municipal Social worker of Mamasapano said in an interview.

The World Food Programme and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) as well as the international and Philippine offices of the Red Cross have helped the government by distributing food, water, and other relief supplies to the evacuees.

It could be recalled that MILF rebels led their forces in a deadly rampage across several mostly Christian to include Muslim towns and villages in central Mindanao in August. They claimed the attacks were in retaliation for a Supreme Court order freezing an MILF-government deal that would have given them control over an expanded autonomous region in the south. From then on, moro secessionists rebels looted homes and businesses, burned down houses, displaced hundreds of thousand of individuals and left some hundreds of people dead.

Despite the fighting, the government said it will still pursue its peace efforts with the 12,000-strong MILF which has been fighting for an Islamic state in the south of the largely-Christian Philippines since 1977.

PANGANGAMPANYA NG MGA MAPAGSAMANTALA

Sa paghagupit ng bagyo Ondoy sa ating bansa, matindi ang pinsalang idinulot nito kabilang ang pagkawasak ng hekta-hektaryang pananim pang agrikultura, milyon milyong halaga ng inprastraktura at ari-arian at higit sa lahat, daan-daang buhay ang nawala. Hindi pa man nakakaahon ay isa na namang bagyo ang nagdulot ng mas matinding paghihirap lalo sa mamamayan. Sa ngayon, nasa “state of calamity” ang bansang Pilipinas dahil sa matinding pananalanta lalo na sa parteng hilaga.
Sa kabila ng pinsalang natamo ng ating bansa at ng mga taong lubos na apektado ng nasabing mga bagyo, ang senaryong ito ang naging dahilan upang ipadama ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino ang pagkakaisa at pagdadamayan lalo sa oras ng kagipitan. Marami mga kababayan natin ang nagsilbing bayani na hindi inalintana ang sinusuong na panganib sa malakas na agos ng tubig, mailikas at mailigtas lamang ang maraming buhay. Ang iba nman ay iminalas ang kanilang pakikiramay sa pamamagitan ng pag ambag at pangongolekta ng mga donasyon at pamamahagi ng pagkain, damit, gamot at iba pang pangangailangan ng mga nasalanta ng baha. Sa kabilang banda, may magandang naidulot ang nasabing trahedya sa iilan nating kababayan sapagkat nabigyan sila ng pagkakataon upang kumita sa gitna ng kahirapan gaya ng talyer at pagawaan ng mga nasirang kasangkapan. Ngunit may iilan ding mga taong nananamantala ng pagkakataon. Sa halip na tumulong ay nakuha pang pagnakawan ang mga naabandonang kabahayan na naapektuhan ng baha. Katulad ng mga ito ang mga politikong sinamantala ang kalamidad para sa pansariling kapakanan. Ginagamit ang pagkakataon upang mapabango ang kanilang mga pangalan sa mga taong kanilang inabutan ng tulong para sa darating na eleksyon.
Dahil sa papalapit na ang eleksiyon, dumarami ang hanay ng mga pulitikong nagnanais tumakbo sa darating na eleksiyon ang puspusang naghahatid ng tulong sa mga biktima ng trahedyang dulot ng mgkasunod na bagyo. Lingid sa mga taong kanilang tinutulungan, ito ay pagpapakitang-tao lamang at ginagamit lang ng mga mapagsamantalang politikong ito ang pagkakataon upang mapaganda ang kanilang imahe.
Hindi bat nakapanlulumong isipin na me iilan paring mga taong mas binibigyan ng prayoridad ang kanilang pansariling interes habang ang buong sambayanan ay abala sa pagtulong at pagdamay sa kanilang kapwa. May mga pulitikong nag abot nga ng tulong ngunit halatang may bahid ng pamumulitika ang tulong na iyon. Kung talagang taos sa puso ang pakikiramay at pagbibigay-tulong, hindi na kailangan pang ilagay ang pangalan sa nasabing tulong upang malaman kung saan at kanino nanggaling ang mga iyon. Hindi na kelangan pang malaman ng buong bansa ang nagawang kabutihan at pagmamalasakit sa kapwa.
Mayroon ding mga pulitikong nagiging abala na sa pangangampanya sa pamamagitan ng paglalagay ng mga banners, posters at iba pang mga campaign paraphernalia sa ilang probinsiya pagkatapos humagupit ang bagyong Ondoy at Pepeng. Ang mga ganitong gawain ay nagpapatunay lamang ng kanilang pagiging makasarili at kawalan ng pagpapahalaga sa kapwa. Hindi man lang nagawang isantabi ang sariling interes upang bigyang daan ang pag intindi sa kapwa na nagdaranas ng kahirapan sa panahong ito.
Katulad na lamang ni Sen. Noynoy Aquino na kung saan mayroong kumakalat sa internet na nagpapakita ng kanyang mga banners at posters sa ilang probinsya bilang pagkampanya sa darating na eleksiyon. Tila nga ba nawawala na ang pagpapahalaga ni Noynoy sa kanyang kapwa at nagiging makasarili na? Oo ngat may iniabot na tulong ang Senador sa mga nasalanta ngunit hindi ito sapat upang ipabatid ang kanyang pakikiramay. Sa halip nagiging abala siya sa pangangampanya at pagpupulong sa ibat ibang personalidad at kinalimutan ang mga taong higit nangangailangan sa kanya.
Sa ngayon, hindi pa man tayo lubos na nakakaahon sa pagkalubog dulot ng nasabing kalamidad, dapat nating isaalang alang ang tamang pagpili ng isang lider na mamumuno sa ating bansa. Huwag nating hayaang samantalahin ng mga mapaglinlang na mga politiko ang paghihirap na nararanasan natin sa ngayon. Sa panahong ito natin makikita at mapapatunayan ang sinseridad ng mga totoong nagmamalasakit at may pagpapahalaga sa kapakanan ng sambayanan. Hindi kailangan ng mamamayang Pilipino ang pinunong ganid at uhaw sa kapangyarihan bagkus isang pinuno na may pagmamalasakit sa kapwa at magbibigay ng magandang kinabukasan sa buong bayan.

THE PELAEZ-LACSON STORY: ENEMY TURNED LOVERS?

Political dramas invade Philippine politics as it also harbors political figures whose principles and their so called “political authority” have been tainted with rotten injustices and integrity issues.

Blanquita Pelaez, who dragged the good Senator Panfilo Lacson on a 3 million dollar anomalous handcuffs purchase in 1996 against the Alameda County and subsequently revealed multi-million mansions listed under Lacson’s name, wittingly came out into the open and dubiously clean Ping’s name into such a scam. It could be recalled that such a caboodle transpired during the tenure of Lacson’s former Chief Executive –ERAP, which he later on claimed with raucous transactions and credibility issues.

Is this a simple drama or just a deceitful electoral ploy? Whichever the case may be, political spotlight has yet again earned Lacson another milestone in perpetuating himself into power. The agenda behind the Pelaez-Lacson collusion is obviously orchestrated to clear the good senator’s name from countless scams so as to make it acceptable for the people. Such a “political cleansing” would inevitably charm the public which is apparently intended to feed his way to Malacañang through an unconstitutional takeover. Pelaez would actually be queued on Lacson’s pre-planned stunt to give him political immunity. Henceforth, the 1996 fiasco is over; and Pelaez who was Ping’s “enemy” thirteen years back has apparently realized her “worth” in this kind of controversy, and whatever it is, only the two “enemy-turned-lovers” know pretty well.

In order to save himself from the Dacer-Corbito double murder case, implicating ERAP would be the sweetest move for absolution sake. His so called “substantially crafted narration” on his former boss’ involvement in the double-slay case was for him an explosion to discredit the Estradas. Winning the hearts and minds of the people and especially the tribunal was his ultimate intention. But of course, that would not eventually end there. Lacson needs substantial proof to lure public’s favor on him especially as the courts scrapped his petition to prohibit the conduct of investigation on him. If Lacson will not win the trial, he will then have it by public’s “mandate”. As Pelaez clears Lacson’s name on the PNPN handcuffs acquisition mess, the people is left to speculate on Lacson’s “heroism” and unstained career as this will somehow earn him political merits.

All these and more are part of Lacson’s political tricks and propaganda moves. But his ultimate maneuver is his intention for power-grabbing through the seditious Transition Revolutionary Government (TRG) which accordingly came out mid of September last year. Accordingly, the 12-paged TRG urged the active AFP and PNP units to stand against the Arroyo administration and subsequently install a caretaker government the minute PGMA vacates her position. Under the said temporary government, a Council where administrative powers emanate would elect a Head of State likely crafted for Lacson.

But before establishing such a transitional council, a critical event through propaganda or diversionary armed commotion must happen in order to get public’s attention. It could be recalled that the August bombing in the metropolis Luzon was believed to have been perpetrated by the group called “August Moon”. Accordingly, said group is a disgruntled faction out to bomb distinct locations in Metro Manila which would later be blamed on Arroyo so as to grant her emergency power. Such scenario was a calculated move especially that the elections are nearing. The people will be left in no choice but to rally along the streets and wonder over a possible Martial Law rule. And the picture speaks so clearly: that the basis of provisional military rule is through an escalated mobilization coupled with a coup d’etat. The so-called “Council” shall come in to the scene and from the power takeover; they would eventually determine the provisional “head” under a Transitional Revolutionary Government.

This is what our political system looks like: struggling towards “perfection” but still nailed with several political figures with marauding ill-fated self-interests and devilish intentions at the expense of democratic authority in its truest sense. And Lacson is by far the obvious predator that eats our struggling democratic foundations.

PANGANGAMPANYA SA KALAGITNAAN NG DELUBYO

Sa mga nagdaang araw, malaki ang nawala sa Pilipinas lalong-lalo na sa mga taong nabiktima ng matinding paghagupit ng bagyong Ondoy sa kalakhang Maynila pati na rin sa mga katabing lalawigan. Ito ay sinundan ng pagpasok ng isa pang bagyo na si Pepeng na hinagupit at tumama mismo sa lalawigan sa hilagang bahagi ng bansa. Sa ngayon, ang buong bansa ay nasa state of calamity dahil sa pananalasang idinulot ng dalawang bagyo.
Ang mga pangyayaring ito ay nagdulot ng pagkakaisa, pakikipagtulungan at pagkakapantay-pantay ng bawat Pilipino sa pagbibigay ng tulong sa mga kapwa Pilipino. Ang trahedya ng bagyo ay nagbigay rin daan sa ilan upang magkaroon ng mapag-kakakitaan sa gitna ng dinaranas na kahirapan ng bansa gaya na lamang ng mga maliliit na talyer at gawaan ng mga kasangkapan sa bahay. Sa kabilang banda, may mga tao rin na nagging mapagsamantala dahil ninanakawan nila ang mga bahay na nilisan ng mga may-ari. At ang masama, may mga ilang opisyal na ginamit ang kanilang kapangyarihan upang makapagbigay ng tulong para na rin sa kanilang pansariling kapakanan dahil sa nalalapit na eleksyon.
May mga ilang tatakbong opisyal ang mga nakita sa lansangan ng iba’t-ibang lugar upang maghatid ng tulong. May iilan din na puspusan ang pagtulong upang bumango ang kanilang pangalan at imahe. Marahil, palapit na ng palapit ang araw ng eleksyon kung kaya’t lahat ng maaari nilang gawin upang makatulong ay puspusan at sisikapin nilang magawa.
Subalit, nakakabahala na may ilan na inuna pa ang kanilang sarili bago ang mga taong humihingi ng saklolo. May mga litrato na nagkalat sa ngayon sa internet patungkol sa pagkakabit ng mga campaign paraphernalia ni Senador Noynoy Aquino sa ilang probinsiya pagkatapos humagupit ang bagyong Ondoy. Nagawa pa umanong makipagkita ni Aquino kay dating Pangulo Joseph Estarada upang magkaroon ng pagpupulong sa pagitan nilang dalawa sa kasagsagan ng malakas na ulan.
Ang ganitong gawain ay mariing ikinokondena dahil ang lahat ng tao ay abala sa pagtulong sa mga kakababayang nasalanta ngunit si Aquino at ang kanyang mga taga-suporta ay nagging okupado sa pagkakabit ng mga banners at posters bilang pagkampanya sa parating na eleksyon. Ito ba ang lider na gugustuhin ng lahat? Mas uunahin pa niya ang kanyang sarili bago ang mga taong bayan. Wala na ba talaga siyang respeto sa mga kahirapan na dinaranas ng kanyang mga kababayan? Kung tutuusin, ang lahat ng ito ay patunay lamang na walang pakialam ang mga Aquino sa mahihirap gaya na lamang ng nangyari sa Hacienda Luisita.
Ang mga pagtulong na ginagawa ni Aquino sa mga nasalanta ay hindi sapat dahil ang mga pera na kanyang ibinahagi ay hindi nanggaling sa sariling bulsa kundi pera na nilikom ng kanyang mga taga-suporta na nagmula rin sa taong bayan. Hindi man lang niya masuklian ang binigay na hirap at pagod na naranasan ng sambayanang Pilipino sa pakikiramay at pagdadalamhati sa kanilang pamilya ng namatay ang kanyang ina.
Ganoon na ba talaga katindi ang kanyang pagnanasa na maka-upo sa paayo ng Malacanang? Wala na ba siyang oras na pinipili kung kaya’t ultimo oras ng kalamidad ay kanyang susugurin para lamang mangampanya at makipag-usap sa iba’t-ibang pulitiko.
Marapat munang isantabi ang pangangampanya dahil hindi pa lubusang nakakabangon ang bansa sa dalawang magkasunod na bagyo na nag-iwan ng matinding sugat sa bansa.

RAILROADING LACSON’S DICTATORSHIP

The foreboding over a possible no-election scenario by next year is as prevalent as the rumored grounding of a transitory government to be dominated by members of the Political Opposition. After the controversial 12-paged Transitory Revolutionary Government or (TRG) proposal that was handed-out among 2008 AFP generals groomed to turn-down PGMA, another “legit” coup d’état is on the rise through Isabela Rep. Ed Joson’s House Bill 3194 which compels the public to swallow-in presidential hopefuls like Senators Loren Legarda and Panfilo Lacson. For a consolation, the public is believed that the “Transitory Council”, comprised of influential civil society groups and solons from the Opposition base camp to act as a collective body instituted to divide the presidential control and keep the appointed Head of State on its toes.

But can we count on this? How sure are we that TRG or HB 3194 stays on track and not be a venue for a totalitarian rule of a non-elected “Head of State”?

As explained in HB 3194, the need for an alternative government once failure of election sets will ensure that PGMA would not be extending her term of office. But it falls short in guaranteeing that the Transitory Government would not be further exploited for the benefit of few presidential hopefuls who simply can’t win Malacañang over a fair and square election. This was also the same alibi used to raise the concession towards a TRG takeover in mid of 2008. However, rather than quelling one democratic threat involving the spoke-about term extension of PGMA, TRG and HB 3194 are no less propelling a no-el and even worse a “dictatorship’. The people conspiring behind it are TRAPOs who are not worth trusting. They all live in the same ego-centric lifestyle where their self-serving interests subdue the welfare of the state.

Instead of putting a leash on the current administration, this actually puts fangs on the opportunistic few to destabilize the government by “financing” or “masterminding” destabilization efforts that could easily be blamed on the Arroyos. Besides, Arroyo has been a fitting scapegoat minding the twin issues of graft slammed during her administration. The public could easily accuse Arroyo of power grip. Thus, giving few TRAPOs the favorable arena where they can twitch facts with the public’s roundabout consent.

Comparing the two plots that ought to oust PGMA and install a “caretaker” government, it has been interestingly noticeable that Sen. Lacson’s name predominates Legarda’s. He was clearly the 2008 TRG originator and now the fiddled Head of State under the dish-out Transition Bill in KAMARA. Considerably, Lacson may have more than what meets the eye over the transition schemes. Perhaps, this explains why he backed out of the presidential race. Else, he would not be dogging his way out on the PAOC-TF hullabaloos. Moreover, it is an open-secret that he is out to clear his name in the Dacer-Corbito murders by nailing the blames
on his former Chief Erap Estrada.

Portraying the good guy amidst the fiasco over erring politicians nowadays would give him an edge over other statesmen including Sen. Legarda, who was also pointed out in HB 3194. Legitimizing a swift overturn of PGMA’s presidency is not enough to make it appealing for the masses to sink their teeth into. Other than demonizing Gloria and winning the Congress’ blessing, there is of course the need to get a hold of people’s confidence. This way, Lacson could claim he won the Filipino’s favor; by putting-up dirty antics and public stunts.

In fact, out of the twelve seated 2007 senators who will be tidied up as the Transitory Council, seven have already been wooed by Lacson to favor him when HB 3194 is pushed. That is, exempting Senators Manny Villar and Cayetano who are still in “word war” with Lacson. This number gives Lacson the flattering lead when matched up to Legarda. Practically, all that he needs right now, are “agitators” that could help generate no-el. To which, DOE Sec. Angelo Reyes could be aligned. Sec. Reyes who had been corresponding with Lacson has unexpectedly dropped the bomb about a possible black-out on election D-DAY. Reyes was plainly instigating baseless rumors that could fuel qualms over a no-el. Apparently, his correspondence with Lacson is building-up a good route for a fitting plan to sabotage the nearing election.

Should we be sitting-ducks as Lacson, among others, railroads his Martial Law rule? By the time coup spoils the law of the land and disrupts the flow of the republic, there is no assurance that an ad hoc government stays “temporary”. The TRG would be calling the shots. The Council, made-up no less by Lacson minions, could lengthen the Head of State’s rule as they please.

Is this really why we battle against Gloria’s term extension? To hand Malacañang over to Lacson who would in turn use it to build his totalitarian empire?

PELAEZ-LACSON AND THEIR BODY OF DEAD LIES

“Collusion for No-El and TRG”

Who can forget the former nemesis of Sen Panfilo Lacson that almost placed the solon’s career into a stalemate for a bunch of handcuffs? Blanquita Pelaez hooked Lacson on a 3 million dollar tug against the Alameda County court where she also revealed multi-million mansions listed under Lacson’s name. Interestingly, this caboodle between Pelaez and Lacson happened during the Estrada administration which the “good” senator claimed was riddled with anomalous transactions.

The agenda behind the Pelaez-Lacson collusion includes exonerating the senator’s name so as to make it acceptable for the people. Pelaez, as a former adversary who had entangled Lacson with the controversial anomalous handcuffs’ purchase in 1996, is now coming “clean” by retracting her former allegations to actually perpetuate mass’ confidence on Lacson. The pa-pogi image of the former 2010 presidential contender who readily left the race just as the Dacer-Corbito murders was about to drag his name is apparently intended to feed his way to Malacañang through an unconstitutional takeover. Pelaez would actually be queued on Lacson’s pre-planned stunt to make him politically “untouchable”.

Nailing the Estradas on the Dacer-Corbito kidnap slay was all part of Lacson’s discrete acquittal from the case. As he demonized Erap, the contentious 2000 crime is almost “case closed”. Besides, Erap had the utmost motive to carry-out the toll order of killing his PR man in fear that Dacer would sold him out. Whatever knowledge Dacer had at that point should have been viably detrimental on the weakening Estrada administration. This angle was cooked well in Lacson’s privilege speeches. But of course, that would not eventually end there. Lacson needs substantial proof to lure public’s favor on him especially as the courts scrapped his petition to prohibit the conduct of investigation on him.

If Lacson will not win the tribunal, he will have it by public’s “mandate”. As Pelaez clears his Lacson’s name on the PNPN handcuffs acquisition mess, the people is left to speculate on Lacson’s “heroism” and unstained career. This will quell the qualms on Lacson’s reputation and will earn him political merit. This is how TRAPOs win the election in the country; through nice propaganda and tricks.

But Lacson is not merely sweetening his name for popularity in the electorate. He needs them to absolve him in the Dacer case and supposedly for the grounding of his masterminded transition council. By mid of September last year, the 12-paged Transition Revolutionary Government prompting the active AFP and PNP units to stand against the Arroyos was rumored propelled by Lacson’s camp. The proposition is actually instigating the need for revolutionaries that would help install a caretaker government the minute Pres. Arroyo vacates her position. Under the said temporary government, a Council where administrative powers emanate would elect a Head of State likely crafted for Lacson.

Before the establishment of TRG, a critical scenario must first ignite public uproar. This is best done by propaganda or diversionary armed commotion. This is why the bombings this August was linked on the group called “August Moon”, a supposedly disgruntled faction out to bomb distinct locations in Metro Manila which would later be blamed on Arroyo so as to grant her emergency power. The idea of an emergency rule minding the nearing election would actually push people on the streets and wonder over a possible Martial Law rule. An escalated mobilization coupled with a coup d’etat would be the bedrock of an ad hoc military rule that would be closely followed by a “Council” that would determine the provisional “head” under a Transitional Revolutionary Government.

This is what TRAPOs are after. And apparently, Lacson is one of them. Blanquita Pelaez serves the first salvo of a possible Lacson headed transition rule.

A CONCEALMENT OF DICTATORSHIP: NO-ELECTION SCENARIO TOWARDS CARETAKER GOVERNMNET

A threatening political ploy is set to obliterate our besieged governmental system, that is in turn, suggests transitional political powers from one to the other. This is what Rep. Ed Joson’s House Bill 3194 is al about- “mimicking” the seditious Transition Revolutionary Government (TRG) from no less than the good Senator Ping Lacson, who now plays the “lesser evil” to dignify himself within the “plotted” caretaker government.

The aforementioned political schemes, which imply a shadow leadership that would rule in an indefinite period of time, also trigger instability especially on the rumored no-election scenario. Accordingly, the Bill suggests the creation of a caretaker government once electoral processes fail next year and therefore covers up the establishment of a deceptive regime. In fact, the transitory ruling as explained in the Bill that includes the ascension of 2007-elected senators to an “executive council” where the Head of State will then be selected runs similar to the Lacson’s TRG plot of having a shadow-led administration. This is probably the very reason why Joson is also linked in the possible take-off of said “legitimize” takeover of Malacaňang.

Having stated aforementioned facts, it could then be deduced that Joson’s HB 3194 is a more finesse and “legalized” version of Lacson’s TRG which has been designed to attract unsuspecting public attention. Obviously, the good solon did not draft such a bill without expecting “something” in return, less it was drafted out of good faith. His was a showmanship derived from ill-fated self interest which Lacson so ensembles.

As explained by both the TRG and HB 3194, the one with the least issues of “anomalous leadership” is best suited to be the Head of the State. And this is why Lacson has been “trying to redeem” himself from the Dacer-Corbito double murder case by hammering down Erap Estrada through his so called “privilege speech” in the senate, which apparently makes him appear the “good boy” in the public’s eyes. Admittedly, voters would be choosing the side of the lesser “evil” which Lacson now claims to be. If by any chance the public stay gullible, the former PAOC-TF Chief who until now is implicated with various cases of bloody abuses could seem to taste liberty at the expense of justice.

Action speaks louder than words as they say, and Lacson’s current political maneuvering is by far the obvious tactic TRAPOs are doing time and again. His supposed pull-out from the presidential race stemmed from a great cause which later own spells his political victory – to invade the present administration and perpetuate himself to power.

This is obvious fact- sedition! TRG and HB 3194 is an excuse for dictatorship And our government is actually ornamented with political figures whose integrity rots with selfish and dreadful principles. They want us in this self-created fiasco and eventually these “good-for-nothing” schemes become part of our country’s history, which sadly we all have to live with.

Our righteous electoral participation next year means so much in saving our starving democratic foundation. Let us not be blinded by the things which are obviously covered with devious political gimmick and white-lies- such as the malingering of Lacson and all his idiot cronies.

DOLE 12 Intensifies Campaign against Child Labor and Trafficking

Child labor has been an extensive predicament all over the country for many years. Although the government has increased efforts to address it and provide laws for worker rights, child labor and trafficking were still a serious problem.
Here in Region 12, the government intensified its campaign against child labor and trafficking through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) which has launched a series of career guidance and counseling caravans in the different schools particularly in Tacurong City last week. This is in part of their region-wide advocacy drive in a bid to reduce the increasing number of child workers and cases of trafficking involving women and children. They have tapped the Public Employment Service Office Managers Association in Sultan Kudarat province (PESO-MASK) to help in its advocacy campaign in the area.
The program already covered more than 800 students, who were mainly apprised on the salient features of Republic Acts (RA) 9231, or the law on the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and RA 9208 or the law on anti-trafficking in persons. She said other topics discussed during the advocacy sessions, which is also supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund’s Sixth Country Program for Children, were child pornography and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Tango said they focused the program in Sultan Kudarat province as it is reportedly considered the source of women and child trafficking in the region.
DOLE Regional director Ma. Gloria Tango said that the advocacy is part of the agency’s continuing crackdown against the rampant employment of minors especially in high risking job and work places. “The Province of Sultan Kudarat has been one of the source and destination points of trafficked women and children in the Region,” she noted in a press statement. “But through the efforts of the agency’s Sagip Batang Manggagawa program, we had successfully rescued a number of child laborers and trafficked women and children that led to the filing of several cases in local courts.” Tango added. s
According to reports brought to DOLE, thousands of children were exposed to hazardous working environments such as quarries, mines and at docksides in order to earn their living. Other children were also getting involved in drugs as courier at a very young age. There were also reports of forced and indentured labor in some parts of the region and the use of under age workers in domestic servitude where children ages 17 years old or younger were already engaged in domestic works. Recruiters bring girls between the age of 13 and 17 to work in Manila or other big cities under terms that involved a “loan”, payment in advance given to their parents that these poor children are obliged to repay through work. Often times, these practices involving young females trafficked by recruiters fall into sexual exploitation.
DOLE Region 12 earlier placed the number of child laborers in the region at around 400,000. Most of the working children aged 17 years old and below in the region were reportedly employed as agricultural workers, laborers in warehouses and public markets, domestic helpers and street vendors. Not counting the reports of some minors who were into prostitution and laborers in small-scale mining activities in the region.