CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Ben Balce/March 27) — Over a hundred former leaders and members of the Moro National Liberation Front Saturday launched a National Unified Command under which all MNLF forces in Mindanao and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were placed.
"MNLF as strong as before." Hundreds of armed supporters of Misuari gather at Lanao camp.
The NUC said it is backing the Sulu gubernatorial bid of former MNLF chairman Nur Misuari.
"The MNLF soldiers always back Nur’s principles and leadership until now," said Alexander Marohombsar Lagawa, NUC commanding general and a close aide of Misuari.
Misuari, former ARMM governor, was allowed out of detention on March 20 to file his candidacy.
MNLF field commanders mounted a show of force during the NUC launching at the 3rd MNLF Mobile Army at Camp Jabal Nur in Madamba, Lanao del Sur.
"The NUC is not waging war against the government but on poverty and the need for meaningful and sustainable development for Mindanao," said Lagawa.
The MNLF’s armed regulars composed of hundreds of reformists and splinter groups converged at Camp Jabal Nur with their high-powered firearms, including .50 and .30 caliber machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
In a press conference attended by mediamen from Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, the MNLF commanders presented a manifesto demanding that government grant full liberty to Misuari.
"No person shall be detained solely by reason of his political beliefs and aspirations," Lagawa told MNLF leaders at the tightly secured Camp Jabal Nur, one of the group’s active camps in Mindanao.
"The MNLF is as strong as before," Lagawa also said.
Zainoding Dimalutang, NUC spokesman and deputy commander, said the Organization of Islamic Conference has asked government to free Misuari.
NUC spokesman and deputy commander Zainoding Dimalutang (left) exchanging words with Cagayan de Oro Journal editor Ben Balce (right) during NUC launching in Camp Jabal Nur in Lanao del Sur.
He said the MNLF, which signed a peace pact with government in 1996, was the first Moro organization to gain observer status in the OIC through the efforts of Misuari.
"As we renew our camaraderie and alliances, we also celebrate the continuing friendship of the MNLF with the stakeholders of Mindanao, with the government and media," Dimalutang also said.
Misuari was charged with rebellion for allegedly leading an MILF uprising in 2002. He fled to Malaysia but was arrested and repatriated.
Cagayan de Oro Journal
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Team Unity 'cagers' play for a win
WEARING bright yellow uniform, three Team Unity senatorial bets – Vic Magsaysay, Ralph Recto and Sultan Jamalul Kiram -- take on the hardcourt of Libmanan Sports Complex in Libmanan, Camarines Sur, to play basketball during their campaign swing to Bicol and southern Tagalog provinces over the weekend. (Team Unity Photo Release)
Sunday, March 25, 2007
MNLF's unified command 'NUC' made public; Mindanao media men visit Camp Jabal Nur
NATIONAL UNIFIED COMMAND (NUC) of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) as they strike a pose with mediamen from cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan after a press conference with NUC commanding general Alexander Marohombsar Lagawa and Zainoding Dimalutang, NUC deputy commander and spokesman, both Nur Misuari's close and loyal aides. The unification of forces was held Saturday at Camp Jabal Nur General Command in Cabasaran, Madamba, Lanao del Sur as calling for immediate implementation of Phase II of the GRP-MNLF peace talks signed in 1996. Also shown in photo is the Cagayan de Oro Journal editor Ben Balce (standing wearing black hat, 6th from left). (Abel Moya).
Saturday, March 24, 2007
CDO, Iligan accredited as retirement havens
CAGAYAN DE ORO JOURNAL (Ben Balce/March 24) - CAGAYAN de Oro and Iligan Cities have been accredited by the Philippine Retirement Authority Inc. (PRAI) as retirement havens.
Edgardo Aglipay, PRAI chair, said they have been intensifying the campaign to lure in retirees from all over the world. He said by 2010, their target would be 900,000 retirees both foreign and local.
He said Cagayan de Oro and Iligan are two areas in Northern Mindanao that will be promoted as sites suited for retirees because of their facilities.
Both are considered high-end locations with their high elevation and beaches.
"Foreign national retirees, particularly from the Middle East countries, will be the most suited in these two cities," said Aglipay.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Team Unity gets Ilongo votes
Team Unity candidates in Ilo-Ilo – (from left) Prospero Pichay, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, Tito Sotto, Chavit Singson and Migz Zubiri – raise their arms to acknowledge the cheers of their supporters after holding a Pulong-Sulong as part of their campaign sortie in Iloilo City last week. (Team Unity Photo Supply)
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Mis Or guv turns over P3.8 million worth of medical equipment
TURN-OVER OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT. Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar S. Moreno recently turned over a P3.8 million worth of medical supplies and equipment to the seven district hospitals funded by the Philhealth Capitation Fund. These include an anesthesia machine, nebulizer sets, bedside pulse oximeter, glucometer, centrifuge machine, basic surgical sets, banmanometer, ECG machine, among others. The seven district hospitals in Misamis Oriental are located in Gingoog City , Balingasag, Talisayan, Initao, Claveria, Manticao, and Magsaysay. Revenues of these hospitals have so far increased brought about by the much improved quality of service. This can be partly attributed to the huge number of Philhealth enrollees all over the province. For 2007, the capitol has enrolled 100,000 indigent families at the Philhealth Indigency Insurance Program benefiting at least 500 thousand individuals. (MISOR PRESS OFFICE)
MILF: "We respect the supremacy of the ongoing talks with RP"
CAGAYAN DE ORO (Teng Datu/March 21) - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) officials yesterday emphasized that they respect the supremacy of the ongoing peace agreement as they reply to the press statement of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over the weekend.
In an interview with the MILF Chief aired over a local radio station here, Chairman Murad Ebrahim mentioned that the MILF leadership respects the impasse peace process and existing ceasefire agreement despite of the latest skirmishes in town Midsayap, Cotabato and some boundaries of Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan provinces.
“We are always committed to the ongoing peace talks with the Philippine government,” said Ebrahim.
He said, the MILF is continuing to adhere whatever the agreement given by the International Monitoring Team and Government of Republic of the Philippines in order to guard the sanctity of the peace process.
The MILF Chairman said that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has no intention to neither quarrel its own nest nor violate the existing ceasefire so as to preserve the significance of peace accord,
The Bangsamoro person is tired to move to one place to another, which is resulted to the on going clashes in the area, he added.
Chairman Ebrahim, claimed that there some groups who took advantage the situation who do not want peace in Mindanao may be due to their vested interest such as economic and political interest.
He said, there is no other solution to the Mindanao problem except to conduct comprehensive negotiation, the solution to the century old problem is must be anchored to the culture and certain belief of the Bangsamoro people which will absolutely foreign from the Constitution of the Philippine Government.
He said in a press statement that reached in the Cagayan de Oro Journal that the Bangsamoro people would only exercise their own culture and religious law through to Right to Self Determination (RSD).
Right to Self Determination is being recognized not only by the Philippine Government but in international law. except the provision that contradict to the Philippine constitution. He added.
In the last of statement, the MILF chief stressed that Development and infrastructure projects of the conflict-affected areas by the foreign donors is the off shoot of the peace agreement to fully support the on going peace talks between the MILF and GRP.
Cagayan de Oro Journal
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