ICC Dispatch - Sunday, November 30, 2008

GRP-MILF CCCH allays fears on escalation of atrocities with Malaysian IMT pullout

ICC Cotabato City (30 November) – The GRP-MILF Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) are continuously in close contact regarding the prevention of occurrences of hostility in the areas where the MILF has established base commands excluding the three (3) which have been declared as no ceasefire zones and more so with the end of the tour of duty of the International Monitoring Team (IMT) led by the Malaysian contingent.

GRP-CCCH chairman Brigadier General Reynaldo Sealana has conveyed the fears of some people to his MILF counterpart by saying: “Paano ang apprehension ng ibang tao kung aalis ang IMT na gagawa ng gulo ang ibang commanders ninyo. Ang sabi ng aking counterpart ay they are constantly reminding their commanders not to do drastic actions kasi kung mangyayari ito ang sabi ko ang military will do some actions to prevent them from creating any atrocities. Nag-assure ang MILF na they will not do that because they are for peace talaga. Yon nga lang, may mga commanders sila na hindi makontrol katulad nung tatlo – Kato, Bravo at Pangalian ng 105th, 102nd 103rd base commands.”

In an interview with the Philippine Information Agency at the Awang Airport, Maguindanao this morning, Sealana reminded his MILF counterpart telling him:: “Yong others na mga gustong magsympathize nasa inyo bro (short for brother) pero isipin ninyo din ang consequences kung lalong magkagulo.”

Sealana admitted that the Malaysian IMT is a big help in preventing the commission of atrocities as he said: “Maganda ang may third party. Tripartite kasi kami – GRP-MILF CCLH and IMT. Ngayon kailangan ng palaging back channeling kami reminding our forces to be confined in the no ceasefire zones.”

The GRP-CCCH chairman also disclosed that it is the Malaysian IMT contingent only that is leaving but the Libyan, Japanese and Brunei members of the team will stay since they have not received directives from their respective embassies to pull out. They were waiting for the negotiation of the reconstitution of the International Monitoring Team which is ongoing.”

He said the government panel requested for extension of the tour of duty of the IMT last November 17 but the MILF accordingly submitted a counter proposal with the following three (3) demands: 1.) Reconstitute peace panel; 2.) IMT will conduct the investigation of ceasefire violations and 3.) Declare null and void the warrants of arrest of erring commanders Kato, Bravo and Pangalian and stop the punitive actions against them. “Dito sa demand na ibalewala ang warrants of arrest ng mga rouge commanders nagkaroon ng impasse na hindi katanggap-tanggap sa pmahalaan.,” he blurted out.

The Malaysian embassy released an aide memoire stating they are definitely pulling out and that they are temporarily suspending their participation in the IMT, he stated.The outcome of the renegotiation of the reconstitution of the team might be known first week of December, Sealana added. (PIA12)


VP de Castro highlights housing projects; stresses land banking

ICC GenSan (30 November)--- keynoting the opening of Sarangani’s MunaTo Festival which kicked off Thursday (Nov. 27), Vice President Noli de Castro highlighted the government’s housing projects to community folks here as well as stresses the importance of local government’s land banking.

The Vice President said that there are various government housing programs that could be availed of by formal and informal sectors of Sarangani.

“Marami pa po tayong mga programang pabahay ng pamahalaan para sa formal at informal sectors na pwedeng ipatupad dito sa Sarangani,” he said.

But it should be understood, according to him that national government housing projects also need the support of local governments for these to prosper.

“Ang palaging sinasabi po namin ni PGMA na ang proyektong pabahay ay hindi lamang ho proyekto ng national government kinakailangan ho nagtutulungan ang national government at ang local government. So kung masipag ang provincial gov’t at local gov’t at tinitingnan nila ang proyektong pabahay sa kanilang lugar ay napakadali po sa national government. Sa ganun ay magtagumpay ang naturang proyekto,” he told an audience of community folks, government employees, officials and the media.

Vice President de Castro along with Governor Migs Dominguez and provincial and municipal officials of Sarangani broke ground and buried the time capsule for the housing project of the provincial government employees in the capital town of Alabel.

The 200-medium grade housing project will be built with supporting facilities and amenities sprawled in a 6-hectare land under a joint-venture partnership with private developer. The province bought the land roughly at P5.4 million.

“Itong project po na ito ay isang pagbibigay ng tulong sa mga empleyado ng provincial government kasama po ang iba’t-ibang intresadong parties na pwede pong manirahan dito sa Alabel,” Gov. Dominguez said.

De Castro assured the governor that the project will succeed as long as there is collaboration with various government agencies.

He also encouraged the provincial government to tie up with the Home Development Mutual Fund or PagIBIG for a possible financial assistance in the form of direct loan.

“Sinasabi ko rin kay governor na maaari naman nyang ipasok o i-enroll ang proyektong ito sa ilalim ng Pag-IBIG developmental housing loan program kung saan ang pag-IBIG fund ay maaring magbigay ng financial assistance para sa site development and house construction in the form of direct loan sa LGU,” he explained.

Vice President De Castro added that PagIBIG can provide loan assistance for qualified employees being bonafide members of the agency.

“Ang pag-ibig ay maari ring magbigay ng take out, individual and user financing para sa qualified myembro… para sa proyektong ito at sigurado ko naman na ang myembro ng kapitolyo eh myembro ng pag-ibig yan,” he opined.

De Castro also lauded the provincial government for its land banking effort stressing its importance to the local governments in their plan for future housing projects.

“Ako’y natutuwa po sapagkat binanggit sa akin ni governor na sila pala ay nag land banking ……ito ang mga sinasabi ko sa mga LGUs na pinupuntahan ko na lagi silang mag land banking para pag dumating ang panahon na kailangan na silang magtayo ng project sa kanilang bayan, ciudad o lalawigan ay meron na agad silang lupa,” the Vice President emphasized.

Dominguez said there’s really a need for the municipality of Alabel to put up a model housing subdivision in its bid for cityhood. (PIA SarGen)


68IB joins ground breaking and turn-over of housing materials in North Cotabato

ICC Kidapawan City (30 November) - The Local Government Unit (LGU) Midsayap led by Mayor MANUEL M. RABARA together with the 68th Infantry (Kaagapay) Battalion, 2ID, PA under LTC Antonio B Sugarol INF (GSC) PA and the Civil Affairs Team of the US Army under CPT Tyler Oliver, have recently bonded together to repair structures destroyed by the retreating MILF rebels during the height of armed encounter at Brgy Upper Labas, Midsayap last August 10, 2008.

On the other hand, both Muslims and Christians in the area provided much needed manpower in the noble project. They were directly affected by the encroachment of the Lawless MILF Group (LMG) particularly the 105th Base Command under the leadership of Umbra Kato.

One of the atrocities that the LMG committed in August was the burning of the Catholic Chapel and two (2) residential houses in Brgy Upper Labas, Midsayap, North Cotabato. The burnt buildings reminded the community and the populace the wounds inflicted into the consciousness of the people in the area. To usher peace and stability there, the 68IB, LGU Midsayap and Civil Affairs Team of the US Army under CPT Oliver, conducted community relations activities in Upper Labas.

One of the community relations projects that the unit identified in consultation with the residents is the construction of the new Catholic Chapel in the affected barangay. The LGUs, 68IB, together with the US troops in the area provided the construction materials and the residents of the barangay provided manpower and labor.

The ground breaking ceremony and the turn-over of construction materials was a symbolic gesture of cooperation between the AFP and the US Army, in helping the communities directly affected by the conflict.

A harmonious relation between the parties involved and peace loving Muslims residing in the area was very evident after the turnover. The populace felt the government is concern in their plight as well as the sincerity of the other parties involved in protecting and saving lives and properties of innocent civilians in Mindanao. (68th I(Kaagapay)B/PIA12)


Kaagapay Battalion participates in bloodletting program

ICC Kidapawan City (30 November) - The 68th Infantry (kaagapay) Battalion based in Poblacion 8, Midsayap, North Cotabato has not been only confined into combat duties but also into civic involvement. In cooperation with the Civilian Volunteers Organization (CVOs) in the area, Recon Midcom, Rotary Club, Association of Brgy Captains (ABC), Local Government Units (LGUs), KTM, MMTO, Karancho, 40thIB, MIB, PNP, PPC, PREX, Couples for Christ (CFC) and other civic and religious organizations, the Kaagapay troopers participated in the recent blood letting activity at Midsayap, North Cotabato.

The bloodletting activity which is program part of the unit’s community outreach program to strengthen the relationship between the military and the civilians was held at I-Link College of Science and Technology at Midsayap, North Cotabato in coordination with the Philippine National Red Cross.

Lt. Colonel Antonio B Sugarol (GSC) INF PA 68th IB commander, is one of the volunteer participants during the occasion where the unit provided qualified personnel, living up to its name as “KAAGAPAY” of the people and the community. With this kind of involvement the AFP is their full time partner, not only in maintaining peace and order but also in addressing vital community needs.

The unit aside from being a maneuver battalion has reached out and extended its services in the community especially in the far flung areas inhabited by marginal sectors and indigenous peoples during its stint in Southern Tagalog. The unit is looking forward in duplicating related community activities in its present area of responsibilities.

Through community involvement the 68th IB hopes to contribute in making the government’s services felt for better understanding between Muslims and Christians alike who want to live peacefully and harmoniously. (68th I(Kaagapay)B/PIA12)


Government assistance to stranded OFWs abroad continues

ICC Cotabato City (30 November) - The government through POEA, OWWA, DOLE and other concerned agencies do not abandon overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) stranded abroad.

This was the reaction of the representative of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during Thursday’s press conference conducted by the Regional Information Command Center and sponsored by the Philippine Information Agency, Region XII.

The statement was made by POEA-ARMM in reaction to the allegation of a reporter who said that “if not of former Senate President Manny Villar’s efforts in sending home to our country several stranded OFWs, who either received maltreatment or abuse from their employers, particularly those from Jordan, said OFWs will not be able to go back to our country.

Tohamie M. Abas, Planning Officer, POEA-ARMM said, “it is not true that the government through our office abandoned, those OFWs given assistance by Senator Villar.”

“All OFWs are being extended assistance by the government except that they (OFWs) have to undergo regular process in terms of documents submitted to our office,whether they are properly documentary or not,” Abas said..

Asked what is irregular immigration, Abas said, there is no clear or universally accepted definition of irregular migration, but generally, irregular migration is the movement of persons, that takes place outside the regularly norms of the sending, the transit and the receiving or host countries.

From the perspective of destination countries, it is entry, stay or work which mean that the migrant does not have the necessary authorization or documents required under immigration regulations to enter, reside or work in that country.

From the perspective of the sending country, irregular migration takes place when a person crosses an international boundary without a valid passport or travel documents, or does not fulfill the administrative requirements for leaving the country.

On the main, there is, however, a tendency to restrict the use of the term “illegal migration” to cases of smuggling of migrants and trafficking in persons. (MCD/PIA Cotabato City)