DENR XII holds turn-over rite for its Land Mgt. Services: Sequito replaces Magarang

(Koronadal City, 26 January 2011) – The officials and employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region XII (DENR XII)  recently witnessed another change in leadership in the Land Management Services (LMS). This is pursuant to the continuing organizational development and  management reform implemented under the leadership of Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje.               Outgoing Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Lands Sacaruddin L. Magarang formally handed the command of responsibility to incoming RTD for Lands Geronimo L. Sequito, Tuesday this week (January 25, 2011) in a simple ceremony held at the LMS Office.               Earlier, Director Magarang questioned the mode of replacing him on the grounds that a mere special order emanating from the Regional Office cannot supersede a special order coming from a higher office.  Magarang assumed office way back in December 2009 on the strength of a directive issued by the Office of the DENR Secretary.               "The issuance of DENR Special Order 2011 – 70 has ended the issue," Magarang, a licensed Forester and a law graduate, declared with a feeling of relief during the event. The said order was signed by Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo, DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations on January 24, 2011 affirming Regional Special Order No. 2011 – 001 issued on January 4, 2011 by Regional Executive Director Alfredo S. Pascual.               In his acceptance speech, Dir. Sequito expressed his deep respect for the outgoing chief whom he called as his mentor having been once his superior. Magarang was Sequito's provincial officer  when the latter was still the Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) of the DENR covering the second District of South Cotabato, previously based in the Municipality of Surallah. "I will continue the management principles and practices that you have started," Sequito said to Magarang who will soon leave for Manila for his new assignment.               Director Sequito, a licensed Forester and a master's degree holder, started his career as a Casual Forester of the Department 36 years ago. He has a total of 14 years of experience as a field official and has a wide background in forest management. He hopes to bring his more than a dozen years of managerial experience in the field to his new assignment in land management which he considers challenging but not new to him. This executive has always been cited for outstanding performance having been a recipient of the DENR Eagle Award (CENRO Category) and Outstanding PENRO Award for six consecutive years now.   This second top ranking regional official traces his roots from Iloilo and is married to Lilian nee Recto of Cawayan, Negros Occidental with whom he has two sons who are now both professionals. He is a doting grandfather to two school-aged grand children. (MCalungsod-Locsin/DENR XII)

letter from the US - Bobby Javier

I thank Ranao Tribune for posting my honest view of Airport Security in America. I hope that my message was understood and I certainly welcome any comments or feedback of any sort. As I have previously stated, I have many issues that I find interesting and would like to know what others think about it. What I am writing about is one of the ill effects from the badly battered economy of America at this time. Former US president Bill Clinton's era will always be relived as a time in America when there was an abundance of money and ownership of stocks and homes by the common people. Yes, internationally America was vacillating at that time. Domestically, America was the place to be in. Clinton's administration turned billions of dollars of deficit to billions of dollars of surplus. Life for most was really good! Then come George W. Bush (junior), 9/11 and the wars with Iraq and Afghanistan. America's monetary surfeit was immediately depleted. When current president Obama took over the nation the defalcation was in the trillions of dollars. I believe that many of the various government agencies failed to monitor, control and correct or repair government expenses and so as the private sectors. Hence the domino effect: large to small businesses closed, unemployment rose to the roof, home foreclosures on a historical high and more alarming is law enforcement agencies inability to at least keep pace with criminal activities. Defaults on credit cards and home loans were widespread and were no longer a private conversation. What used to be shameful situations are now acceptable daily issues to talk about because this is what is really happening; people are financially doom or hurting! Millions of people's credit has been terribly tarnished and have no choice but either applied for bankruptcy or repossession and stomached the consequences for the next 7 years (when credit is cleared). There is an old saying; "save for the rainy days". It rained but it poured hard for years and there was no way that someone could have saved for all those rainy days. The government recognized the problems and tried saving all these large to small businesses and banks from a total collapse by passing the "Stimulus Package". The said bail out was supposed to assist all these troubled businesses and financial institutions and in return to help save the "consumers" from losing their homes and ruining their credits. The government made good of its promise but the lending institutions either refused to help or made it impossible for a "consumer" to be saved due to pure greed. The depression, pain and embarrassment does not stop when a person know that his financial credibility is completely dilapidated. That is the only the beginning. Now out of a job and a financial wreak, the logical move is to look for a job. When filling up all those application forms either in a company's Human Resources office or on-line, almost half of the paper works is about the applicant's background which has emphasis on credit check. Bingo! Because of the computer age, information about anyone can be gathered with a touch of a finger as long as permission was given to do so. A person has to be perfectly honest and even if the person lies about himself (to give himself a chance for the job), the truth will always come out and now made matters worse because of chicanery. The company does not have to explain why they did not hire you. All they have to say is "Thank you for your interest and the position has been filled." What does anyone's credit have to do with hiring or disqualifying a competent applicant? Bingo!! It used to be the educational and work experience(s) qualifications and criminal records are those that are carefully checked because those are the ones that really matters. All of sudden, out of the blues, an individual's credit takes priority in hiring an individual. I am not hiding the fact that there are many people who destroyed their financial reputation because of pure carelessness and simply being a white collar criminal. How about those who were victims of the earlier mentioned circumstances? The clobbered economy caused all these negative reactions! Why deny an individual the chance to rebuild or redeem himself by not hiring him because of poor credit? I know that the hiring company questions the individual's honesty. Having a tarnish credit does not mean that an individual is a criminal. It does not mean that an individual will victimize the company that he will work for nor the people he will work with. Why would an individual dig a deeper hole for himself and the people that rely on him? My problem with this issue is that reputable companies/corporations should have the decorous of sitting down with an individual and listen to the person's rationale about his monetary downfall, then make the decision of hiring or not. In this way, an individual is given a fair chance and not abruptly and wrongfully judged. This issue has been brought in front of the US congress but to date nothing has been done to correct this repugnant practice of hiring. The law makers, mostly I believe, are so out of touch of the reality in this new method of taking an individual to the company's work force. If this manner of hiring continues, rate of unemployment will continue to rise and suck on the unemployment benefits and welfare which at this time the "well has already run dry". I pray that fixing this problem is not that far ahead.

A letter from the US

Changes... Greetings! No matter what you are going through in life right now, always think there is always a better tomorrow. That is right, you always have to positively reinforce yourself and believe it. Inhale, exhale, inhale and exhale, good job, that is the spirit!      I want to write about an astounding experience that I had in Manila about 8 years ago. It is kind of old but I believe the thought still applies to present days.      Sometime in 2002, I went to visit the Philippines and stayed in Manila. Prior to the visit, I carefully planned the whole vacation in detail: Airlines, transportation from airport to hotel and back, accommodation, lodging, sightseeing and etc. It was fun and easy as long as you are organized and with the help of the computer.     Upon arriving Manila, I was immediately transported to my hotel. In the front desk of this lavished 4 stars hotel is where I experienced one of the biggest shock in my life.     I had reservations and all I had to do was register and do the credit card info to guarantee payments for my stay. In the registry paper work, it asked what I was doing for a living and what kind of business. I wrote Deputy Sheriff and Law Enforcement on it then handed it back to this lovely young highly educated lady. She perused it carefully and asked me, "Magkano ang  money ho ninyo on the side?"    I was instantly startled. Wow…this young lady was terribly blunt! I asked her what she meant by the question. She answered, "Kasi dito sa Pilipinas and mga pulis maraming pera from kurakot para ma suportahan ang mga asawa". I told her that it is different in the US and such action is not tolerated. I added that I will not hide the fact that mayroon din mga kurakot na pulis sa states but most are really good people. I explained to her that it is our honesty and loyalty to law enforcement is the basis of our retirement pension. One criminal act, no matter the severity, can take away your past, present, future and completely ruin you as a person and hurt all the people that depends and believes in you. One criminal act, no matter the severity, can completely take away the pension that you labored hard for. The lady was quite. Could it be because of my answer / explanation or she was suddenly embarrassed on why she asked me that appalling query?     I am not naïve about the kurakot by many of the law enforcement officials and officers in the Philippines. It happens in many parts of the world especially the impoverished ones. I lived almost half of my life in the Philippines particularly in Metro-Manila and saw (1st hand) how "dirty cops" operate and functioned the whole day. Most of you, if not all, know what I am talking about.    What really came in to my mind is "How can the Philippines improve the quality of officials and officers in law enforcement if corruption like cancer is so wide spread in all these agencies?"   A good natured person will hesitate to become a police officer because of how the general public views one: corrupt, adulterous, abusive, the real criminal and very shameful. A lawless individual will readily apply for and take advantage of the job because it gives him the opportunity to do all his criminal deeds in the pretense of enforcing the law. Mahirap mahalo ang sariwang mansanas sa mga bulok lalo pa kung peste na. Diba madali rin mabulok ang sariwa?   I can just imagine a rookie cop trying to be that knight in a shining armor trying to save the day. His veteran peers will look at him and say "Nandiyan na yan, huwag mo nang pakialaman, ikaw din baka magsisi ka. Maghanap ka ng sariling mong dilehensya". I am certain that this is the attitude and conversation that takes place in many (not all) police stations and outpost.   How can this be rectified? Correction must start from the very top. I am talking about from the President, The cabinet member in charge of policing the country, to chiefs of all these various law enforcement agencies, supervisors such as captains, lieutenant and sergeants down to the street cops must not only take an oath of " To protect and serve" but with conviction. From the top to the bottom must be held accountable for their actions and a rating system in how each agency, each division, each unit and each officer is performing is a must. The financial budget for each agency is based on their rating. When the rating is poor then the less the budget or it is completely lost. The better rated agencies gets rewarded by expanding its' territorial responsibilities and of course gets addition budget. Under performing officers, divisions and agencies must be terminated and over achieving ones must be recognized and rewarded.    This might sound too basic or we have tried it but it failed. The way it will only succeed is through conviction and commitment from the top to the bottom to be accountable for their agency, division, unit and individual's actions. This is a good way to weed out lazy and dirty cops. In addition to accountability, proper training and equipments must be supplied. These are the little things that can make the attitude change. Pride needs to be restored for being a cop and with that pride comes confidence, dedication and righteousness. Those are the building blocks and when completed, that good natured person will hesitate no more to become an officer of the law and that criminal minded individual better change his ways because the cops are out to get him.

Kidnappers free Iligan City printing press owners

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Jan. 19 (PNA) -- Kidnappers have freed two business partners in Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte, a top police official disclosed Wednesday. Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO)-West director Chief Supt. Felicisimo Khu said one of the victims was freed in Baloi, Lanao del Norte while the other in Ramain, Lanao del Sur. Khu said the victims namely Ma. Elda Senedo and Nadja Saldivar were kidnapped around 6 p.m. Saturday in Baloi, Lanao del Norte. Senedo and Saldivar, co-owners of a printing press in Iligan City, were aboard a Service Utility Vehicle (SUV) on the way home to Barangay Palao in Iligan, when flagged down by three gunmen, Khu said. He said the suspects commandeered the victims' vehicle and took P300,000 cash before speeding towards Balindong, Lanao del Sur. He said the gunmen freed Saldivar around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Ramain, Lanao del Sur and was ordered to raised P1.2 million ransom for the release of Senedo. However, he said Senedo, whose release was facilitated by Agakhan Sarip, was freed around 6:30 p.m. also Tuesday in Baloi, Lanao del Norte. Sarip turned over Senedo to Army 601st Infantry Brigade chief Col. Leo Ferrer after her release, Khu said. (PNA) LAM/TPG/mec

Iligan BIR Chief appeals for tax p BIR appeals to tax payers to declare their real income

                                            RIC CLET and MARIZ REVALES    

  Iligan City – Newly installed Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) District Officer  Judith Galinda Pacana  appeals to business tax payers to comply and  declare their income to the nearest  reality. She disclosed that with BIR new programs the tax evaders have no chance to hide their real income and be monitored by BIR.

She, however, admitted that BIR is undermanned but assured tax payers that this is not a hindrance for them to serve their clients. "We do multi tasking in coping up our work and asking tax payers to bear with us if there are times we cannot provide our service on schedule", Pacana said.

She reported that BIR is now on its computerization program dubbed as "Integrated Tax System" (ITS). Presently, they are now on its stage of transition and gathering of data and encoding. "This system can shorten the transactions for our clients " Pacana said.    

       In an interview with Pacana, she noted that despite of lack of manpower programs that needs to zero in to enhance their collection will be her priority. She is optimistic to meet the target goal for this   year with the cooperation and strong support of the business tax payers in her area of jurisdiction.

     She claimed that the reason for the shortfall of last year's collection goal was the shutdown operations of two steel plants in Iligan City. "Twenty percent (20%) is added to our target goal  of 46 million for the month January 2011 and with 20% it will become 55 million an increase of 9 million", Pacana said.    

    In Lanao del Norte, Pacana reported that her collection agent are doing circuiting to meet its target goals. She added that one collecting agent is handling three towns.  BIR Iligan's jurisdiction has reached as far as kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.

    "With tax payers cooperation in declaring their real income will be enough to help our poor and needy countrymen", Pacana noted.     

MOGOP to launch program in Marawi City on January 15

Luwaran.com

 

 

 

January 12,2011 - The Moslem Organization of Government Officials and Professionals, Inc. (MOGOP) is slated to launch its program at Resort Hotel inside the compound of the Mindanao State University (MSU), Marawi City on January 15.

MOGOP, alongside the Non-violent Peaceforce, an international non-government organization (INGO); the Mindanao Human Rights Action Centre (MinHRAC), and the Mindanao People's Caucus (MPC), were admitted members of the Civilian Protection Component (CPC) of the Malaysian-led International Monitoring Team (IMT) on May 5, 2009.

The civilian protection component of the IMT came about after more than 600,000 civilians were displaced as a result of the fighting between MILF and government forces in August 2008 and the pronouncement of the military through Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, the spokesman of the Army's 6th Infantry Division, that all internally displaced persons (IDPs) are considered "enemy reserved force".

"This made civilians fair target in war," protested some media reporters, who interviewed him at the Army's headquarters at the Camp Siongco, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao on June 28, 2009.

The CPC's main roles and responsibilities are: monitoring the safety and security of civilian communities in conflict areas;  monitoring and ensuring that government and the MILF respect the sanctity of places of worship namely, mosques, churches, and religious places and social institutions including schools, madaris, hospitals and places of civilian nature;  to monitor the needs of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the delivery of relief and rehabilitation support efforts in conflict areas in Mindanao; to strengthen the ownership of the peace process  by supporting  and empowering communities to handle conflicts of communities level;  to monitors acts of violence against civilians in conflict affected areas; and to strengthen the linkages and information-sharing between the IMT and the Peace Panels.

According to Arimao Salik, Chairman of MOGOP, several guests were invited to grace the auspicious occasion, including Marawi City Mayor Fahad "Pre" Salic, Maj. Gen. Datuk Baharom Bin Hamzah, IMT Chief of Mission; Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal "Bombit" Alonto Adiong, Jr.; Lanao del Norte Gov. Mohammad Khalid Q. Dimaporo; Major Carlos Sol Jr., Head Secretariat, GRP-CCCH; Said M. Shiek, Chairman, MILF-CCCH; P/Sr. Supt. Pedrito  F. De Los Reyes (DSC); Brig. Gen. Rey C. Ardo, commanding general of the Army's  103rd Brigade; and Iligan City Mayor Lawrence L. Cruz.

    Mohagher Iqbal, Chairman of the MILF Peace Panel, was also invited as one of the principal guests, but he declined the invitation due to prior important commitment.

Home > Regions > Mindanao

ARMM educators ask Aquino to decide on peace talks

01/11/2011 | 04:17 PM 

  

Share

Educators of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are calling on President Benigno Aquino III decide on the resumption of the peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Delegates and leaders of the Educators Assembly for Peace, held in Marawi City over the weekend, made the call in a resolution forged during the two-day event.

“[We ] call upon the President of the Republic of the Philippines to finally determine and decide to restore the peace process between the Philippine government and the MILF as announced in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Peace assembly resolution 

RECALLING the various conferences, seminars, workshops, and assemblies convened, sponsored or co-sponsored by the Commission on Higher Education—ARMM and other institutions pertaining to the search for peace through education in the ARMM, Mindanao and the Philippines in general,

RECALLING FURTHERMORE the peace processes between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which resulted to the signing of the September 2, 1996 GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement and the initialed but unsigned GRP-MILF Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) of July 2008,

TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION that the abovementioned agreements could have solved the problem of unpeace in the Bangsamoro Homeland by all means possible, including the field of education as a vehicle in molding the mind of the younger generation of the peoples of Mindanao towards total peace and harmony in Mindanao, had these been fully implemented in letter and spirit,

HAVING CONSIDERED the recommendations of the speakers, delegates to this august assembly,

CALLS upon the President of the Republic of the Philippines to finally determine and decide to restore the peace process between the Philippine government and the MILF as announced in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on July 26, 2010 during the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives wherein he announced: “Kinikilala natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng MILF sa pamamagitan ng pagdidisiplina sa kanilang hanay. Inaasahan natin na muling magsisimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos ng Ramadan" but which did not yet start until now,

Requesting further the President to recognize the active participation of the Third Party Facilitator through the Malaysian representative Datuk Othman Bin Abdul Razak) to resume the peace process.

In his SONA speech on July 26, 2010, President Aquino announced: “Kinikilala natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng MILF sa pamamagitan ng pagdidisiplina sa kanilang hanay. Inaasahan natin na muling magsisimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos ng Ramadan."

However, participants to the recently-concluded peace assembly noted that the promised resumption of peace talks has not happened yet since September 12, the end of the holy month of Ramadan in 2010.

The Peace Center of the Commission on Higher Education of the ARMM (CHED-ARMM), launched the 2011 Educators Assembly for Peace in the Philippines at the Noramis Convention Center in Marawi City.

Norma M. Sharief, Ph.D, Regional Chairman II and managing commissioner of CHED-ARMM said that the peace assembly was initiated in response President Aquino’s call to all peace stakeholders to work for peace.

This call was also echoed by acting ARMM Governor Datu Ansaruddin A. Adiong, giving impetus to the peace assembly that had the theme: “Educators: The Cultivators of Peace for the Present and Future Generations".

The event was done in coordination with Regional Association of Higher Education Institutions (RAHEI) in the ARMM, particularly the Philippine Muslim Teachers’ College (PMTC), the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies (IBS) and the Society of Educators for Educational Development (SEED).

The two-day affair was attended by some prominent MILF personalities led by MILF Peace Panel, Chairman Datu Mohagher M. Iqbal, DAtu Atty. Michael Mastura, MILF Peace Panel Senior Member, Professor Abhoud Syed M. Linga, Chairman, Institute of Bangsamoro Studies speaks on “Issues on Bansamoro Studies", and international lecturer Dr. Kamarulzaman Askandar from Universiti Sains Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia speaks on the “Intra –State Conflict Resolution in ASEAN Region: The Role of the Third Parties. — Mariz Revales/LBG, GMANews.TV

  

Share

LikeDislike

Community

Disqus

ARMM educators holds peace assembly to resume peace talks

The Peace Center of the Commission on Higher Education of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CHED-ARMM), launched the 2011 Educators Assembly for Peace in the Philippines in the Islamic City of Marawi over the weekend held at Noramis Convention Center here.         Dr. Norma M. Sharief, Ph.D, Regional Chairman II/Managing Commissioner of Ched-ARMM disclosed that, responding to the Presidential Call of His Excellency President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to all Peace stakeholders to work for peace for this country and to the Peace Pronouncement of Acting Regional Governor of ARMM Datu Ansaruddin A. Adiong during his State of the Region Address (SORA),The theme of the peace assembly is "Educators: The Cultivators of Peace for the Present and Future Generations".       The historical event was in coordination with Regional Association of Higher Education Institutions (RAHEI) in the ARMM, particularly the Philippine Muslim Teachers' College (PMTC), the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies (IBS) and the Society of Educators for Educational Development (SEED), uniting together in praying to Allah (swt) for peace to reign in the Bangsamoro Homeland and in the Philippines as a whole.      The two day affair was attended by some prominent Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) personalities led by MILF Peace Panel, Chairman  Datu Mohagher M. Iqbal, DAtu Atty. Michael Mastura, MILF Peace Panel Senior Member ,Professor Abhoud Syed M. Linga, Chairman, Institute of Bangsamoro Studies speaks on "Issues on Bansamoro Studies", and international lecturer Dr. Kamarulzaman Askandar from Universiti Sains Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia speaks on the "Intra –State Conflict Resolution in ASEAN Region: The Role of the Third Parties.   The more than five hundred participants in the peace assembly made a resolution RECALLING the various conferences, seminars, workshops, and assemblies convened, sponsored or co-sponsored by the Commission on Higher Education—ARMM and other institutions pertaining to the search for peace through education in the ARMM, Mindanao and the Philippines in general,   RECALLING FURTHERMORE the peace processes between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) which resulted to the signing of the September 2, 1996 GRP-MNLF Final Peace Agreement and the initialed but unsigned GRP-MILF Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) of July 2008,   TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION that the abovementioned agreements could have solved the problem of unpeace in the Bangsamoro Homeland by all means possible, including the field of education as a vehicle in molding the mind of the younger generation of the peoples of Mindanao towards total peace and harmony in Mindanao, had these been fully implemented in letter and spirit,   HAVING CONSIDERED the recommendations of the speakers, delegates to this august assembly, 1.      CALLS upon the President of the Republic of the Philippines to finally determine and decide to restore the peace process between the Philippine government and the MILF as announced in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on July 26, 2010 during the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives wherein he announced: "Kinikilala natin ang mga hakbang na ginagawa ng MILF sa pamamagitan ng pagdidisiplina sa kanilang hanay. Inaasahan natin na muling magsisimula ang negosasyon pagkatapos ng Ramadan" but which did not yet start until now,   Requesting further the President to recognize the active participation of the Third Party Facilitator through the Malaysian representative (DATUK OTHMAN BIN ABDUL RAZAK) to resume the peace process,                 2. CALLS for a paradigm shift in understanding the Bangsamoro struggle for self-determination from "Mindanao Problem" to "Philippine Problem" as this is a problem of the Filipinos and the Philippine government to give justice and resolution to the legitimate grievances of the Bangsamoro people; 3.      CALLS for the organization of educational and other multi-sectoral networks that would call for the campaigns for genuine and lasting peace all over ARMM, Mindanao in particular, and the Philippines in general;   4.       ALLS for the recognition and involvement of the ARMM HEIs represented by the CHED-ARMM Regional Chairman as partner of the national government in the framing of educational policies, programs and guidelines; 5.      .ALLS for more funds support for the Islamization of Knowledge in ARMM HEIs;   6.       ALLS for the appointment of the CHED-ARMM Regional Chairman as member of the Board of Regents/Trustees of State Universities and Colleges within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao;   7.       ALLS for the institutionalization of Peace Conference of Educators or conduct of this Assembly every year in order to keep the academe abreast with the developments in the peace processes and to encourage participation of all education stakeholders in the advocacy for peace;   8.      PAYS TRIBUTE to the eminent personalities be they delegates and guests for gracing this affair,   9.      REQUESTS the Regional Chairman II / Managing Commissioner of CHED-ARMM to form a Special Committee of Twenty Five (25) members from this august Body to seek audience with the President of the Republic of the Philippines and communicate this Resolution for proper action.

CHED-ARMM launches Educators Assembly for Peace

The Peace Center of the Commission on Higher Education of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CHED-ARMM), will spearhead the 2011 Educators Assembly for Peace in the Philippines in the Islamic City of Marawi on January 8-9, 2011at around 8 in the  morning at Noramis Convention Center here.

 

   Dr. Norma M. Sharief, Ph.D, Regional Chairman II/Managing Commissioner of Ched-ARMM in a letter disclosed that, responding to the Presidential Call of His Excellency President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to all Peace stakeholders to work for peace for this country and to the Peace Pronouncement of Acting Regional Governor of ARMM Datu Ansaruddin A. Adiong during his State of the Region Address (SORA), will spearhead the 2011 EDUCATORS ASSEMBLY FOR PEACE in the Philippines  with the theme: "Educators: The Cultivators of Peace for the Present and Future Generations".

 

  This is in coordination with Regional Association of Higher Education Institutions (RAHEI) in the ARMM, particularly the Philippine Muslim Teachers' College (PMTC), the Institute of Bangsamoro Studies (IBS) and the Society of Educators for Educational Development (SEED), uniting together in praying to Allah (swt) for peace to reign in the Bangsamoro Homeland and in the Philippines as a whole.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter from the US

BY: BOBBY  M. JAVIER My best buddy, Ric Clet, encouraged me to write something that I am candid about. Believe me, I have many issues that I want to discuss which I find very interesting and I want to know what other people think about it. An issue that recently bothered me is "AIRPORT SECURITY"   in the United States. After that ruinous incident, 9/11, the Homeland Security Department was organized then under that the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) was established which one of its responsibilities is airport security. I have been involved in all kinds of security jobs. First during my military days then I just recently concluded 25 years of dedicated service to serve and protect. Obviously I am all out, 100%, when security is mentioned. I used to say and believe that there were certain nationalities, races and colors of people that needed to be checked and searched before stepping in and wandering around America. I was a true believer of that! I was doing a lot of flying from the city that I reside on to the city where I was earning an honest living. Those cities were states apart which needed 1 hour of flight time and 30 minutes to depart and reach a gate. I never had any kind of trouble going through TSA's metal detectors and carry on items scanners. It was a breeze!  As a matter of fact, I was so proud of these ladies and gentlemen for doing an excellent job for national security sake. Last December 1, I was flying back from work to home. It was a cold autumn day in San Francisco and so as in Las Vegas. As always, I was wearing my summer clothes (t-shirt, shorts and tennis shoes only) because this is my clothing of choice all year round for so many years and I love the feeling of the cold air all over my body. A good thing finally came to an end: what used to be a breeze became a traumatic experience. As I was about to walk through the metal detector, a TSA officer stopped me and instructed  me to stand inside this vertical space capsule look alike which will perform a body scan on me.  I asked the officer, "why me?' he replied, "You don't have to fly if you don't want to". The answer to a licit query was rude but since there was an urgent need for me to reach my destination I submitted. Moments after the scanner performed its job, I stepped out of that thing feeling that I was not like the other travelers: I was suspected of being a bad person, I was the enemy that they were looking for and I am here to destroy America. I was completely disturbed by the situation! You might ask "Why?" I invested about 27 years of my life loving and caring for America and there is nothing that I would do to decimate this beautiful country. The more important question that must be asked, "what probable cause (specific reason) that the officer had to choose me for the full body scanner search?" I was dressed liked I was going to the beach and more than likely did not have anything hidden in me. As opposed to the others who were wearing hats, layers of clothes and more than likely had something in them that was considered contraband. In my several years in law enforcement, I have performed countless pat and strip searches and all had a probable cause. It is illegal to search someone or a place without a probable cause that can be properly articulated or a search warrant. Failure to do so or have a search warrant is a serious violation of our civil rights: invasion of privacy and freedom from illegal search. I would imagine that the answer to this question is for the interest of national security, period. "Why was I picked?" The officer had many to choose from but he did it "randomly" and it just happened to be me or my turn. He did not choose the others maybe because the person was black or maybe because had middle-eastern features and can be accused of profiling or racist and can be sued. I would imagine that the answer to my question is "random search", period. What is the rationale behind random and what triggers the random search? Do not get me wrong, I am 100% for the security of the country and a believer that this can be successfully achieved by searches. But when does what appears to be an entitlement by an officer by means of random searches crosses abuse of power in the pretence of national security? I highly recommend that to ensure the safety and security of the nation's airport and air transport and to prevent being singled out and not to have that traumatic experience, everybody should be search in the same manner regardless of what tool of the trade is used.  Changes to the current procedure (random searches) must be done immediately to prevent giving too much power to both the TSA and Homeland Security who is slowly showing that they are untouchable and anything that they say or do should be unequivocal.