ICC Dispatch - Friday, January 23, 2009

UN-WFP official assures to remain in Mindanao

ICC Cotabato City (23 January) - Despite the kidnapping of three humanitarian workers of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) by Abu Sayyaf elements in Sulu recently, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) remains committed to provide food assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Mindanao.

WFP deputy country director Alghassim Wurie said he was sad that such unfortunate incident could happen to humanitarian aid workers and expressed deep concern for the kidnap victims.

Wurie said, because of the incident, non-government organizations (NGOs) engage in providing relief assistance to victims and communities affected by the armed conflict in the region are extra cautious and vigilant.

“We take extra precautionary measures in our travel and in the way we conduct and deliver interventions,” Wurie said.

Wurie said, they are undertaking appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of WFP staff and personnel.

Citing the risks involve in their work, Wurie said, they always assess the prevailing situation and coordinate with government authorities in the conduct of WFP relief assistance.

“If and when government authorities don’t allow us to go to an area for security reasons, we don’t insist,” Wurie added.

He stressed that this incident would not affect UN-WFP’s committee to provide interventions to IDPs.

Based on WFP assessment, he said, 60 percent of IDPs in Maguindanao have already returned to their places of origin and only 40% remain at the different evacuation centers. (PBC/PIA Cot City)


Raid hauls war armaments, arrests suspect

ICC Cotabato City, MAASIM, Sarangani (23 January) – A joint military-police raid at dawn Wednesday (January 21) in barangay Pananag nabbed one suspect and recovered high-powered firearms and war paraphernalia.

The operation was conducted by virtue of a warrant of arrest against suspected Lawless Moro Islamic Liberation Front Group (LMG) members responsible for the August 2008 attack of Maasim municipal hall, police station and the killing of two innocent civilians.

"At around 5am, we arrived in the area and immediately our troops surrounded the vicinity where the suspects are reportedly hiding," said 1st Lt. Marvin Maraggun of the 73rd Infantry Battalion.

"Since our soldiers are close to the houses, they saw the people inside throwing items outside," the lieutenant said.

A team of Maasim police moved into the houses and started a search leading to the arrest of one of the suspects caught in possession of an M-1 Garand rifle.

"He will be charged with illegal possession of firearms other than the case filed against him with the rest of the suspects," said Senior Police Officer Leodivicio Ramos, member of the 16-man team who served the warrant.

The warrant of arrest docketed under criminal cases 3043-08, 3044-08 and 3045-08 were against LMG members accused of arson, robbery and murder.

Military intelligence reports indicated that at least five suspects were taking refuge in the village. Police said two informants identified the arrested suspect who was caught in the possession of
the M-1 Garand.

Authorities seized the M-1 Garand rifle, M-79 home-made rifle, ammunitions, three pieces of propellant charger for Rocket-Propelled Grenade (RPG) and other war paraphernalia. These are now under the custody of the Maasim police.

According to a military spot report, a certain 2nd Lt. Duazo happened to stumble on the three propellant chargers which prompted the troops to search for other war materials.

"They (suspects) were caught in big surprise," Ramos said.

"We saw them throwing the recovered items outside the house, some of them we found just concealed under banana trees near the house," Ramos added.

According to the military, the recovered home-made M-79 rifle was similar to the one fired upon some 300 family evacuees in nearby Ireneo Lopez Elementary School in Lumasal Wednesday last week.

In October 8 last year, a joint military-police search operation in Datu Dani, Kiamba town, led to the surrender of Moro Islamic Liberation Front high-ranking official Victor Watamama.

"We will not stop hunting those who attacked Maasim poblacion and killed innocent civilians," 73rd Infantry Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Edgardo de Leon said. (Russtum G. Pelima/PIO Sarangani/PIA Gensan City)


DOH-ARMM issues health advisory against typhoid fever

ICC Cotabato City (23 January) - The Department of Health in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DOH-ARMM) has alerted residents to maintain cleanliness and sanitation and personal hygiene as a preventive measure against typhoid fever.

DOH-ARMM information officer Julie Villadolid said, typhoid fever is caused by food and water contained with salmonella bacteria.

“Ang typhoid fever ay nanggagaling sa salmonella bacteria na dala ng dumi ng tao o mga hayop,” Villadolid said.

Symptoms of typhoid fever include serve headache, sustained high fever, abdominal discomfort, and muscle pain.

According to Villadolid, it is not only the peanut butter coming from the US reported to be contaminated with salmonella bacteria which can cause typhoid fever.

Basically, she said, typhoid fever is caused by unsanitary and unsafe food and drinking water.

To prevent typhoid fever, she said, it is important to practice proper waste disposal, sanitary handling of food and safe potable water.

Since 2008, DOH-ARMM has recorded 305 typhoid fever cases with no reported deaths, she added. (PBC/PIA Cot. City)


News Feature : Light in the end of the tunnel

ICC Gensan City (23 January) - There is a wind of change in the posture of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu in published statements said that they are prepared to sit down with the government peace negotiators anytime. He also stressed that a peace pact can still be possible within this year and under the administration Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

This is a light in the end of the tunnel given the fact that just last week a member of the MILF peace panel, Prof. Mike Mastura, issued a statement that President Arroyo no longer have the political sway to hammer a peace deal.

We like to believe that Kabalu’s statement is the more credible and significant one since it is the most recent announcement that came from the spokesman of the MILF. Kabalu had also said that whoever heads the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the chief negotiator are the least of their concerns.

Given these positive developments we hope that the two sides will be opened and prepared to revisit issues surrounding the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain which the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional. It is our position that while this is so, some vital issues and concerns which had been subjects of extensive deliberation may still be doable and within the ambit of the constitution. A lesson is learned from that botched agreement and that it is exigent that the communities and stakeholders affected by the contentious issues be informed and consulted as the government had recently mandated. We expect that both panels draw a mechanism that would pave the way for a tractable process of consultation.

The sooner they meet the better for both the government and the MILF. This will isolate the lawless elements that are still actively pillaging remote communities and those who have been engaging in kidnap for ransom which has become their profitable cottage industry. If the government and the MILF are in accord, they can eliminate these terrorists which had contributed to the estrangement of the two panels all these years. (MW/PIA SarGen)


Philippines will host the 5th EcoProducts International Fair (EPIF)

ICC Cotabato City - The Philippines will host the 5th EcoProducts International Fair (EPIF) at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, Philippines. This significant event is being organized by the Asian Productivity Organization, Development Academy of the Philippines and Philippines Business for the Environment.

EPIF is one of the largest international environmental exhibitions in Asia, which showcases the most advanced environment-friendly technologies, products and services that enhance sustainable productivity and competitiveness. It provides opportunities to explore business collaborations, as well as promote public awareness on environment-friendly products and services.

A parallel activity to the EPIF is the International Conference on Sustainable Consumption, Sustainable Production, Sustainable Future. This three-day activity aims to discuss topics on Eco-innovation, Eco-business and Environmental Finance, and Green Procurement, Eco-solutions and Applications.

The Conference aims to provide opportunity for global, regional and local experts to present/share experiences, views and propositions with participants to promote sustainable development through consumption of eco-products and services.

The International Conference is scheduled on 19 to 21 March 2009 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, Philippines. Conference fee is Two Hundred Fifty US Dollars per participant (US$250.00), which covers attendance to the 3-day conference with lunch and two snacks, conference kit, one sponsored/reception dinner and entrance to the exhibit.

For more details, please find the attached conference brochure and visit ourwebsites at http://www.epif09.org, www.cshd.dap.edu.ph.