Friday, October 06, 2006

IMT Expresses Satisfaction on Ceasefire, Peace Process


CAMP ALAGAR, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – (By Mike Banos / Oct. 5) - The International Monitoring Team 3 (IMT-3) overseeing the GRP-MILF Peace Process today expressed satisfaction over the progress of the peace process, and in particular on how the ceasefire mechanism has managed to keep the peace between the two factions.

Maj. Gen. Dato Md Ismail bin Ahmad Khan of Malaysia, head of mission, IMT-3, said his country remains committed to overseeing the peace process for the Philippines in general, and Mindanao in particular, to help Filipinos attain "everlasting peace."

Ismail was accompanied by Brig Gen Edgardo M. Gurrea, chairman of the GRP Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and his counterpart in the MILF, Mr Von Al Haq.

Gurrea said the purpose of the IMT-3's visit was to orient Ismael, who is the third head of mission of the IMT overseeing the GRP-MILF peace process since 2004.

"Our purpose is to orient Gen Ismail and introduce him to the various heads of the LGUs, AFP and PNP commands covered by the GRP-MILF conflict areas," Gurrea said. "Despite the impasse in the peace panel talks, we are happy to note the ceasefire mechanism at all levels is still in place and discharging its intended purpose to keep the peace."

The IMT-3 was on the second leg of its orientation tour which included the two Lanao provinces, Cagayan de Oro and was scheduled to visit Bukidnon province later the same day to meet with Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri,Jr. before proceeding home to Cotabato city. During the first leg of its visit, the team toured Cotabato city, Davao city and the Socsksargen region. The final leg of the tour will cover Western Mindanao including Zamboanga City and Sulu.

Gurrea clarified that while the ongoing peace talks were focusing on three main talking points (security, rehabilitation and development of conflict areas and ancestral domain, or the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity), the ongoing orientation tour was more focused on the former, including the monitoring of the peace and order situation in the identified conflict areas, to ensure that criminal activities of alleged mujahideen would be properly addressed by anti-crime elements of the AFP and the PNP and not deteriorate into a wider conflict involving forces of the GRP-MILF and possible jeopardize the ongoing peace talks.

Gurrea said that prior to the start of the peace process and the organization of the IMT, the GRP-MILF conflict areas had over 700 violence-related incidents. After the tour of the IMT-1, this was reduced to approximately 500, and went down further to only 10 last year under the tour of IMT-1.

"We are happy to note that there has been no incidents reported under IMT-3, and our fighting target is to maintain this zero level for the duration of the one year tour of Gen. Ismael,"he added.

Ismail also noted that the present areas of disagreement between the GRP and MILF peace panels were focused on "political and diplomatic" issues and not conflict related, which demonstrates that the CCCH mechanism is working to prevent violent conflict from breaking out between the AFP and MILF armed forces.

For his part, Al Haq expressed satisfaction that all parties involved in the peace forces were facing and working towards one direction, which is the attainment of a just and lasting peace in Mindanao.

"The essence of Ramadan is sacrifice, and all of us should offer a measure of sacrifice for the greater good of a just and lasting peace," Al Haq said.

Not the least, Gurrea cautioned that despite the zero incidence of GRP-MILF violence-related incidents under IMT-3's stewardship, "We must continue to be vigilant against those who seek to disrupt the ongoing peace talks."

"What's important is the mechanism of the CCCH is holding and keeping the peace, to allow the GRP-MILF peace talks to continue under an atmosphere conducive to negotiation and settlement," he added.

Other members of the IMT-3 team accompanying Ismail were Lt.Col. Nazeri bin Ismail, Maj. Mustaffa bin Ibrahim, Lt. Cmdr. Muhd Shakir bin Salleh, Capt. Azuan bin Salehuddin, Capt (DR) Amran bin Amir Hamzah, Cpl. Zainal bin Othman, and Encik Hisham bin Rosle, all of Malaysia.

MIKE BAÑOS
501 V. F. Cabaraban St., Cabaraban Subdivision,
Puntod, 9000 Cagayan de Oro City
Philippines
Primary Mobile 0906-889-8484 (Touch Mobile)
Secondary Mobile 0921-469-6305 (Smart)
IM mike_banos_2000@yahoo.com
alternate email : mike_banos@walla.com

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

PNP Claims 19 of Militants Killings Solved

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MIKE BAÑOS / Oct. 4) - The Philippine National Police Task Force Usig claims it has solved 19 of the extrajudicial killings in the country, well ahead of the 10 cases target President Gloria Arroyo tasked them to solve by October 10, this year.

PNP Dir. Gen. Oscar C. Calderon said during a speech at the PNP Regional Office 10 yesterday: “On October 10, the 10-week deadline set by our President to solve at least 10 cases of militant and media killings will expire. With these, I am happy to announce that as of today (Tuesday, October 3, 2004), there are already 19 cases solved, way past our target.”

However, Calderon cautioned the PRO-X personnel present that they must remain vigilant and pro-active in preventing more slayings in order to restore order in the streets and maintain stability in peacekeeping and law enforcement.
During a press conference held later the same day at a local hotel, Calderon said by “solved”, he meant the appropriate cases have been filed and the suspects arrested.


“We have arrested 12 suspects and 70% of the cases involving journalists have been solved,” he said.

Calderon attributed the relatively higher solution rate in the solution of the killings of journalists to the cooperation extended to the PNP by the victim’s families and the ability of the media community to encourage key witnesses to come forward to identify the perpetrators of the crimes.


“We have also found that most of the killings involving the media people are not job-related,” Calderon added, meaning the motives for the murders were not related to the stories published or investigated by the victims.

However, he admitted having a hard time getting the cooperation of the families of militants since they don’t trust the motives of the PNP in helping them solve the murders of their kin.
“There are presumptions already existing about the PNP so it is quite difficult to convince the families of militants’ victims we are here to help them, and protect their kin from being harmed,” Calderon said.


After a pass-in review at the PNP PRO-10 headquarters, Calderon also graced the groundbreaking for the housing project of the Cagayan de Oro Police Office (COCPO) at Bgy Canitoan and the blessing of the new Cugman police station donated by the Misamis Oriental Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Alwana Business Park, before proceeding to Bukidnon to continue his inspection.

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Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Jaraula pushes split of CDO into two districts

CAGAYAN de Oro Lone District representative Constantino Jaraula pushed House Bill No. 5658, an act creating a second congressional district in Cagayan de Oro City by splitting the present lone district.

Jaraula’s bill was recently approved in the House committee on local government.

But the National Statistics Office until now does not specifies whether the present population of the city has reached to at least 500,00. A new census that would justify creation of one legislative district, under constitutional provisions, is 250,000 population.

Jaraula’s proposed legislation aims to address the city’s phenomenal growth by providing more funds in addition to a more effective bureaucracy by establishing another representation at the house of representatives.

Jaraula clarified that he has been moving for the division of Cagayan de Oro into two congressional districts, and not two cities.

In his explanatory note, Jaraula said the Bill was filed with the 12th Congress and approved as House Bill No. 1195 but was not acted upon by the Senate at the time of its adjournment.

The City of Cagayan de Oro was chartered on June 15, 1950 under Republic Act No. 521. It has since become the center of commerce, economic growth, investments, and industrialization.

Jaraula said the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) rates Cagayan de Oro as having the highest percentage of growth throughout Mindanao.

House Bill No. 5658 under Section 1 states that “there is hereby created a Second Congressional District in Cagayan de Oro City by splitting the city into two districts, with the Cagayan de Oro River as the natural boundary running from north to south.”

The bill also states that the first district shall comprise the territory west of Cagayan de Oro River and all the barangays located therein, while the second district shall comprise of the territory east of the Cagayan River and all the barangays located therein; provided that those living within the islands or sandbars shall belong to the District where their Precincts are located without prejudice to the effects of dredging and reclamation.

Jaraula’s Bill also stated that the first separate election for each District shall coincide with the regular elections of 2007 and the incumbent Representative shall continue to represent the entire city until his term expires.

Jaraula also clarified that the city would be divided by two and not by CDO-1 and CDO-2, but two representatives and under one mayor and one vice mayor.


The Mindanao Gold Star Daily