Maigo celebrates 52nd Founding anniversary and 4th Nangkaan festival

Maigo,Lanao del Norte  - This progressive town in the province, again celebrates its 52^nd founding anniversary and 4^th Nangkaan festival this year with the theme "Hawak kamay at kapit bisig para sa tuloy tuloy na kaunlaran sa Maigo".

         Mayor Rafael "Paeng" Rizalda, disclosed that although weather is unpredictable, the celebrations must go on as schedule.

          He said that the line of activities started as early as February 7, 2011 and will end on February 27. It started with inter agency basketball competition, a nights of Association of barangay Captains, Teachers, Local Government Unit personnel, Men in Uniform and Eagles.

          Invited guests for the araw ng Maigo include Senator Teofisto L. Guingona III as guest speaker, Representative Imelda"Angging Q."Dimaporo, Governor Mohd"Khalid" Q. Dimaporo, Regional director Catalino E. Chan III of the Department of Tourism, Regional director Atty.Araceli F. Solamillo of the Department of Social Welfare and Development of region 10, Executive director, MINCIADP Carlota S. Madriaga and Regional Executive director Lealyn A. Ramos of the Department of Agriculture –Region 10.

        February 22, Araw ng Poblacion celebration, February 25, a Thanksgiving Mass, Mass wedding, Agri/Aqua Fair, Boxing competition, Sanggunian Kabataan (SK).

        On February 27, which is the culmination of the celebration, a competition of anihan festival will be featured by the 2^nd prize winner on Street dancing. The final judging of Agri/Aqua booth /One town one product (OTAP),a culinary contest and a boxing competition.

Faculty member;student abducted in Marwi City -GMANEWS.tv

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Updated: 6:29 PM, Feb 22, 2011

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Faculty member, student abducted in Marawi City

02/20/2011 | 10:17 PM

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A professor and a student were abducted Saturday by still unidentified men inside a university campus in Lanao del Sur province in southern Philippines, a military spokesman said Sunday.

Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang of the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command identified the victims as Cris Neil Gulfan, 24, and Aubrey Virtudez, 19. Both were abducted in Marawi City.

He said Gulfan is a faculty member of Al-Khawirizmi International College (AKIC) while Virtudez is a BS Information Technology student at Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus.

Virtudez is from Cagayan de Oro City while Gulfan hails from Pagadian City.

The victims were abducted at around 6:45 p.m. while on their way to where Virtudez was staying along 7th Street, MSU main campus.

Cabangbang said the perpetrators "forcibly took [the victims] into a Hi-Lander SUV color maroon bearing plate number (unknown letter) 858 and sped off towards Piagapo, Lanao del Sur."

It was not the first time that an abduction occurred inside the premises of the MSU campus. On December 10 last year, two students were also kidnapped while on their way to their dormitory units. They were released four days later.

It was not clear whether ransom was paid for the release of Shiela Mae Vidal, 18, and Alcher Balicuatro, 19. Like Gulfan and Virtudez, they were also brought to Piagapo town, the military said. - KBK, GMA News

Letter from the US -Bobby M. Javier

        Recent events made my blood boiled. Angelo Reyes surprised suicide and Hosni Mubarak forced resignation as President of Egypt. You will notice that I did not write a title on both of them. That is because, personally, they do not deserve the title and trust that the citizenry gave them.

 

       Both Reyes and Mubarak's, although world apart, downfall was avarice. It is a shame that both man worked so hard to get to the title / position they wanted and go down in history infamously.

 

      Reyes, who held several high ranking positions in government, was identified as one of the many generals and high ranking military officers who received several millions of AFP-PNP fund money as "pabaon". Reyes, cowardly, elected suicide than to clear his name in front of the Philippine Senate.

 

     Mubarak, ruled Egypt for about three decades. Years of misery led the citizenry to call for his resignation. Mubarak took his sweet time to decide if he should relinquish but it was actually giving himself time to secure the billions of US dollars he was able to accumulate by less honest means. It was estimated to be 40 to 70 billion and with that amount there will be a country that will grant him safety just like most of the dictators in history.

 

    My wife described me as very judgmental and told me that it was so easy for me to say because it is not actually happening to me. I answered, "Yes I am judgmental and yes it is easy for me to say "no" if it is happening in front of me". My rationale is that corruption is something that I will not get myself involved in and even if offered to me by influential people, it is not going to happen simply because it is not the right thing to do. Further, I truly believe that bad things happen to bad people as evident with what has just happened to both Reyes and Mubarak.

 

    Reyes said "I did not invent corruption, I just walked into it". He even stated that corruption was happening in the Armed Forces even when he was still a lieutenant. True that corruption in the Philippines has been going on since many generations ago. Reyes was alert enough to know that there was depravity in the military during his early years of service. True that many have resigned to the fact that corruption is a way of life in the country. My argument is that Reyes who eventually became the Secretary of Defense and was the Chief of the AFP at one time, knew that immorality was a problem in the military, then why he did not solve the problem but instead was a part of it.

 

     For a person that talked about honor, integrity and all these positive adjectives, he did not have the conviction and was a terrible example for his family, friends and peers. He even made matters worse by self murder than telling and facing the truth. What part of "the truth will set you free" he did not understand?  What a self-concerned individual he was, leaving his family with all the troubles and shame. He might not have received the "pabaon" but he is guilty of corruption too for allowing it to happen during his watch, vicarious liability so to speak.

 

   Mubarak chose cupidity than making good of a promise to serve the citizenry of Egypt. He, for three decades, helped himself in emptying the government funds that was supposed to be spent for the welfare of the people that trusted and believed in him. It is extremely disturbing in how a person could live a life of abundance and see others not having anything at all. It is difficult to understand how can an individual see others suffer because of his avidity for money and power.

 

    It is even more disturbing and difficult to comprehend how people witnessing and have inside knowledge of the immorality to just looked the other way and even accept corruption. I know the answers to these are "partners in crime" and "there is no sense of fighting it because that is how it is, a part of society and life in the country we live in". I truly believe that these answers are nothing but a bunch of nonsense and it came from the weak, hopeless and criminal-minded.

 

   As individuals, we know what is right and wrong. We support what is good and right, opposed what is bad and wrong. As individuals, we are proud of who we are and dream of a good life for our family by honest means. What went wrong, why deviate? It might sound too old fashion but there is nothing wrong and old fashion about living a clean, honest and righteous life.

 

   We as individuals must not be a contributor in the depravities around us. There is no reason why we should submit to the demands of a crooked and nefarious government agency and its' representatives. These government employees, from the top to the bottom, from the department heads down to the custodians, are paid to do a job by the taxpayers, then why do they have to demand for payments on the side or under the table? Tell me, do you demand or get extra pay every time you do your job? We must fearlessly oppose any wrongdoing and report the devious deed, do not easily give up when reported to deft ears and be relentless because not all in government are immoral. Let us take it a step forward at a time.

 

   In closing let me remind you that: 1) corruption takes away the services, benefits, supplies and other goods that are intended for the citizenry, 2) good things happen to good people and 3) at the end of everything, we have to face the JUDGE up there, answer all HIS questions and even clear ourselves of what the devil might falsely accuse you of.     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Armm polls deferment "most practical" solution-Adiong- Business.com.ph /Bong Fabe

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—"It is the most practical alternative  that the national government can adopt."

This was the categorical statement of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Acting  Governor Ansaruddin Alonto-Adiong in supporting the calls to postpone the 2011 ARMM elections scheduled in August.

Adiong said issues related to the history of election violence and failures and  on the ongoing peace process between the government and the Moro Islamic  Liberation Front (MILF) as well as the government, Organization of Islamic  Conference (OIC) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Tripartite Review of  the 1996 Final Peace Agreement should be fully resolved first before the elections arer held.

Continuing with the elections will "only complicate unsolved social issues" such as the  absence of a negotiated political settlement with the MILF, aside from  worsening the conduct of the polls, he said.

But Maguindanao Rep. Simeon  Datumanong, former Deputy Speaker for Mindanao and Justice secretary, questioned moves to postpone the ARMM elections.

Datumanong said it is specifically stated in Republic Act 9333 that "elections are to be  held in the second Monday of August every three  years."

Postponing  the elections, Adiong said, will prevent political violence from erupting in  the ARMM where families and clans are dragged into  feuds (locally called rido) that go on for countless years.

During  the May 2010, national and local elections, eight towns in Lanao del Sur and two  towns in Basilan declared failures of election. Four months later, in what many  believe is election-related, a former mayor of Tugaya, Lanao del Sur was killed  in an ambush. On November 20, 2010, the  vice-mayor of Barira, Maguindanao was gunned down in Davao City. His death is also widely believed as connected to  the recently conducted SK and barangay elections

DENR XII Regional Executive Director Alfredo S. Pascual gestures as he stresses a point during the  launching of the International Year of Forests in Barangay Edwards, T'boli, South Cotabato. With him on stage are (fr. left to right)  A SUMIFRO official, DENR XII Regional  Technical  Director Ernesto L. Lezada, Barangay Chairman Eden F. Pedregoza, SUMIFRO District Manager Emilio O. Grande, South Cotabato Provincial Environment Management Officer Ramon Ponce B. de Leon and T'boli Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO) Engr. Julian C. Asion, Jr.

DENR,LGU South Cotabato to launch Intrnational Year of Forests

DENR,  LGU South Cot. launch International Year of Forests

MOA on Sapali River Rehab inked

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region XII launched Wednesday last week (February 2, 2011) the International Year of Forests, 2011 in cooperation with the local government units (LGU's) of  T'boli municipality and South Cotabato Province.

           

            A launching program was held at Barangay Edwards, T'boli town in South Cotabato.

 

            In his message, DENR Regional Executive Director Alfredo S. Pascual declared that forests embody the sum total of nature's bounty such as biodiversity, water and mineral resources, among others. Further, Dir. Pascual cited that the theme which focuses on "Forests for People" conveys the multiple values and the central role of people in the sustainable management conservation and development of our forests.

 

            Similarly, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) of South Cotabato Mama G. Samaon exhorted the attendees to nurture and protect our forest by means of continuous tree planting.

 

            The launching program was highlighted with the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between three parties. The MOA calls for a joint implementation of  the rehabilitation of the Sapali River in Barangay Edwards through planting of bamboo along its river bank within a stretch of two kilometers.  Signatories to the agreement were Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Jerry B. Dalauta (DENR-Banga), Edwards Barangay  Chair Eden F. Pedregosa, and  SUMIFRU (Phils.) Corp. District Manager  Emilio O. Grande.

 

Under the agreement, DENR shall provide technical assistance to partners while the Edwards Barangay Government shall  promote and pass ordinances and resolutions in support to the National Greening Program and assist in the care of the bamboo plantation, among others. As adopter, SUMIFRO shall take an active role in the  maintenance and protection of bamboos including the submission of periodic information regarding the project to the DENR.

 

Some 500  bamboo planting stocks were planted along Sapali River in Barangay Edwards by the participants which included local officials and students of Barangay Edwards National High School.

 

            The event was also graced by DENR Regional Technical Director for Forestry Ernesto L. Lezada, South Cotabato Provincial Environment and Management Officer (PEMO) Ramon Ponce B. de Leon, and T'boli Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Engr. Julian C. Asion, Jr.

 

Year 2011 was declared as  International Year of Forests by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 61/193 way back in December 2006. The celebration aims to highlight the importance of forests in everyday life, to raise awareness and strengthen sustainable forest management of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.( CG Valdez / MC Locsin /DENR XII)

Bihag denial boomerangs - By MT News Network

 

   Tubod, Lanao del Norte---The denial of Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative (LANECO) Board President Reinario Bihag that the Lanao del Norte Capitol is not behind the campaign to oust Electric Coop exec Engr. Resnol Torres boomerang after the publisher Antonio (Tony) C. Abejo got hold a copy of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan resolution.

    The resolution, urging the LANECO management to conduct a referendum for its conversion into either a stock cooperative under the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) or Stock Corporation under the Corporation Code.

   Bihag who was irked and threatened Abejo for a libel case after printing the controversial issue on its January 29 of Malindang Tribune,   querying that, is the LaNorte Capitol behind Torres ouster campaign?, BOD of laneco denied that Lanao del Norte Capitol under Governor Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo is behind the ouster campaign waged by the coop Board of Directors (BOD).

    This developed when the electric coop board subjected LANECO General Manager Resnol Torres a preventive suspension last month though it was lifted 9 days later after its issuance.

 

Salient Points By:Tony Abejo

Dangerous design                   Political intervention on electric cooperative operations is deem unhealthy because politics in this country is dirty.                 It has been observed in many instances that a business that faces political intervention will be bankrupt.                 The current conflict between the Board of Directors (BODs) under President  Reinario Bihag and the management under GM Resnol Torres which according to source has allegedly been directed by a top politician in the province will play havoc to the electric coop even though it ranked number 5 among the 119 electric cooperatives as the best in the country.                                                Through GM Torres outstanding management, LANECO for 20 years has been always at the top as the most outstanding electric cooperative.                 But the current conflict with the board will surely affect the coop standing though the National Electrification Administration (NEA) steps-in taking over the investigation.                 NEA set the hearing of the case on February 10 after failing to reconcile the warring groups last week.                 The Board which filed an amended complaint against Torres is vent of prosecuting Torres until the end, while Torres also filed cases against the Board for falsification of official documents, grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the interest to the cooperative docketed as Administrative Case No. 01-12-10 at the NEA.                 The case filed against GM Torres stemmed on an attempt by a representative of Sumai International, a company that supplied electrical materials to the electric cooperatives in the country to encash a postdated check paid by LANECO to the said supplier to Kapatagan Mayor Benjie Baguio who happened to be a cousin of Kapatagan LANECO BOD Claire Elumer.                 They issued preventive suspension against Torres last month preventing him to sign checks for salaries and wages, payments for power bills to NGCP and GENCO including amortization on their loans and other payables of LANECO in their operations, believing that Torres benefited the transaction between SUMAI and the electric coop.                 The board later holds in abeyance Torres suspension on December 9 because he provided them the documents they requested according to BOD President Reinario Bihag.                 But Torres cried foul because according to him, he was not given the chance to defend himself.                 "Asa ka kakita ug imbestigahon nga dili ka patingugon aron pagdepensa sa akong kaugalingon,"Torres lamented.                 According to Torres he requested the board to have Kapatagan Mayor Benjie Baguio and Atty. Opay to appear during the investigation to shed light regarding the accusation because they are the personalities involved in the attempted encashment of postdated check. Atty. Opay accompanied the authorized representative of SUMAI International in approaching the Kapatagan town mayor, but the board rejected his request.                 Torres said that the Board of Directors violated his right of due process, seek remedy at the NEA Administrative Board seeking the suspension and expulsion of the 10 Board of Directors at the electric coop because only Kauswagan BOD Joseph Sanguila out of 11 who depended Torres on the violation of his rights of due process.                 But a top ranking employee of electric coop reported that the10 Board of Directors has hidden agenda of the present conflict.                 According to him, that a newly elected board of director of the coop that attended a training in Toledo, Cebu last year revealed to the general manager of an electric cooperative in Samar, that the current conflict in LANECO is allegedly a part of a grand design by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to gain foothold in LANECO.                 CDA are using symphathetic government officials on their campaign for conversion of electric cooperatives because until now only 12 out of 119 converted from non-stock to stock and from non-profit to profit, from NEA-registered to CDA-registered. The 112 electric cooperatives oppose the conversion because CDA has no financial and technical capability to help electric coops.                 And CDA is now moving heaven and earth to have electric cooperatives converted and the current conflict that rocked LANECO is a dangerous design that will wreck the multi-awarded electric cooperative.   Is LaNorte capitol behind Torres ouster campaign? By MT News Network                      Tubod, Lanao del Norte---"An ongoing campaign for the expulsion of the multi-awarded general manager of the electric coop here is believed being waged by the coop Board of Directors," our source said.                 Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative Incorporated (LANECO) General Manager Resnol Torres has been subjected to series of investigation by the coop Board of Directors under President Reinario Bihag for malpractice even though the accusation leveled unto him is so weak.                 "It is harassment pure and simple," GM Torres said.                 The board reach to the point of subjecting Torres to preventive suspension though being put hold in abeyance last month.                 "It is a campaign to force GM Torres to resign as LANECO chief executive officer and we believed that the campaign for GM Torres ouster ie being orchestrated by the Lanao del Norte Capitol because Lawyer Jonathan Puno, the provincial legal counsel presence is there," the said coop insider said.                 "Though Atty. Jonathan Puno is not the LANECO BODs legal counsel, he served as the board legal adviser,"our source added.                 The Lanao del Norte Provincial Government under Governor Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo is actively supporting the movement for the electric cooperative conversion from NEA to CDA.                 The LANECO management under GM Resnol Torres opposed CDA's campaign for conversion because of many defects.                 CDA has no technical and financial capability and if converted into profit from being non-profit, it will defeat its missionary objective in energizing the countryside.                 "Luoy kayo ang tagabukid kay dili na mahatagan sa kuryente kay dili man modungag ang kooperatiba ug mga linya kon dili makaganansya kon magCDA nata," a coop employee said.                 Through NEA-Electric Cooperatives, electric power has lighted the country-side even those areas that have no roads.                 CDA also fails on its mission because more than 80% of the coop registered unto it did nt survive.                 "Why join in the company of losers and leave the company of successful," a coop insider said.                  "Because of the LANECO management strong opposition for CDA conversion, the capitol initiated a campaign to oust Torres from the management," according to our source.                 The capitol openly declared LANECO as their enemy through Governor Dimaporo's message printed on its 37th Annual General Membership Assembly (AGMA) souvenir program in fact, during the 38th AGMA last May 30, 2010, former 2nd District Solon Abdullah (Bobby) D. Dimaporo openly showed his desire for LANECO conversion to CDA lambasting the electric coop management for not supporting his call for conversion.                 Torres who is strongly opposing the conversion together with the 111 electric cooperatives of the country earned the ire of the political family of the Dimaporo who control the political condition of the province of Lanao del Norte.                 "All the 10 LANECO Board of Directors are political protégées of the Dimaporos except Kauswagan BOD Joseph Sanguila," our source said.                 The political might of the Dimaporos is shown during the Lala District Board of Director's election, Governor Khalid Dimaporo led the barangay captains of Lala together with opposing candidates for the BOD that back-out for the BOD race and the winning candidate, Donato Calica visited the office of GM Resnol Torres to effect the withdrawal of the two candidates for the board.                 The said incident showed a chilling signal that the Capitol are now harnessing its political might for the conversion of LANECO from NEA to CDA at all cost.

Is LaNorte capitol behind Torres ouster campaign?-Tony Abejo, Publisher, The Malindang Tribune

Tubod,Lanao del Norte – An ongoing expulsion campaign for the multi-awarded general manager of the electric coop here is believed  being waged  by the Lanao del Norte Electric Cooperative Incorporated (Laneco) Board of directors,report says.  General Manager Resnol Torres has been subjected  to series of investigation by the Laneco BODs under President  Reinario Bihag for malpractice even though the accusation leveled unto him is so weak.   "It is harassment pure and simple",GM Torres said.The BOD reached to the point  of subjecting  Torres to preventive suspension  though being put hold in abeyance last month.    "It is campaign to force GM Torres to resign as Laneco chief executive officer and we believed that the campaign for GM Torres ouster is being orchestrated by the Lanao del Norte Capitol because lawyer Jonathan Puno, the provincial legal counsel and as Laneco Board legal adviser presence is there", the source said on condition of anonymity.     The Lanao del Norte provincial Government under Governor Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo is actively supporting the movement for the electric cooperative conversion from National Electrification Administration (NEA) to Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).     The Laneco management under Torres opposed DA's campaign for conversion because of many defects.      CDA has no technical and financial capability and if converted  into profit from being non –profit,it will defeat its missionary objective in energizing the countryside.      Luoy kaaayo ang mga ataga bukid kay dili na mahatagan  sa kuryente  kay dili man modungag ang kooperatiba ug mga linya kon dili makagaanaansya kon mag CDA na ata",a coop employees said.      Through NEA-electric operatives, electric power has lighted the countryside even those areas that have no roads.       CDA alos fails on its missison  because more than 80 percent of the coop  registered unto it did not survive.       "Why join in the company of losers and leave the company of successful?' the said coop insider lamented.          "Because the Laneco's management strong opposition  for CDA conversion, the capitol initiated a campaign  to oust Torres from the management", the source said.             The capitol openly declared Laneco as their enemy through governor Dimaporo's message printed  on its 37th Annual General membership Assembly (AGMA) souvenir program in fact,during  the 38th AGMA last May 30,2010,former 2nd Disstrict representative Abdullah "Bobby" D.Dimaporo openly showed  his desire  for Laneco conversion  to CDA lambasting the electric coop management for not supporting  his call for  the said conversion.        Torres who strongly opposed the said conversion together with 111 electric cooperatives of the country, allegedly earned the ire of the political family of the Dimaporo, who allegedly controls the political condition of the province.        Reports said that all the 10 laneco BODs are political protegees' of the Dimaporos except kauswagan BOD Joseph Sanguila.        The political might of the Dimaporos is shown during the Lala District Board of Directors election, Govenor Dimapaoro led the barangay captains  of Lala together with opposing candidates for the BOD who backed –out for the BOD race  and the winning candidate,Donato Calica visited  the office  of GM Resnol meeting to effect the withdrawal of the two candidates for the bard.       The said incident  showed a chilling signal that the capitol is now harnessing its political might for the conversion of Laneco from NEA to CDA at all cost.

Murad: Despite internal 'rift,' MILF still committed to peace talks - Nation - GMA News Online - The go-to site for Filipinos everywhere - Latest Philippine News

Murad: Despite internal 'rift,' MILF still committed to peace talks - Nation - GMA News Online - The go-to site for Filipinos everywhere - Latest Philippine News

We have open lines with Umbra Kato, MILF chieftain says - www.luwaran.com

February 6, 2011 - While admitting having internal problem involving former MILF’s 105th Base Commander Umbra Kato, MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim told media during a press conference at Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat on February 5 that there is an open line of communication with him even after the video film (of Kato) was released to the public.

In that interview, Kato enumerated some of the issues he raised against the MILF that included the alleged revisionist policy of the current leadership headed by Murad in abandoning the Front’s original stance of independence and that he was arbitrarily booted out of command.
In an earlier forum, Muhammad Ameen, chair of the MILF Secretariat, told his audience that until today including the conduct of the struggle and the negotiation, the MILF present leadership is following the ideological and political lines espoused in the book written by the late MILF founder Salamat Hashim entitled, “Guidelines to the Bangsamoro Mujahid”.

Salamat is recognized as the foremost ideologue of the MILF. He is not only recognized as a “learned man” (aleem, pl. ulama) by his peers in Mindanao but also by leading ulama of his time particularly those of the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.

The book was originally published in Lahore, Pakistan but had been reprinted several times in Mindanao since he arrived in 1987.

Ameen also clarified that Kato was not stripped of his command but he voluntarily resigned, citing that old age is already creeping on him. The resignation is contained in a letter to the MILF leadership last year.

“We are making headway to convince him to fully return to the fold of the MILF,” Murad told www.luwaran.com in an interview after the press conference where some 35 members of the media, broadcast, print, and television attended.

“I believe this problem can still be resolved expeditiously and soon,” he added, without elaborating.

Among the media personalities, who attended the press conference, were Ms. Sidney Jones of the International Crisis Group (ICG) and Manuel Mogato of Reuter, an international news agency.

The press conference started at 9:30 am with an introduction of the main speaker by Mohagher Iqbal, followed by Chairman Murad who read a prepared press statement, and then by the open forum.

The Q&A session ended at around 11:30am.

Murad told newsmen that Kato is not founding a new organization but only seeking for a separate military, which he called as “Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters” or simply BIFF.

He also disclosed that the MILF Central Committee had already sent its three most senior ulama to talk to him and they reported back with some good development.

Biff (slang) in classical English means “to give a blow”.

Kato, in his early 70s, joined the MILF in 1993 five years after the late MILF Chairman Salamat Hashim returned from Pakistan in 1987.

Before this, after his graduation in Islamic theology course from the Riyadh Islamic University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Kato taught in one of the madrasahs (Arabic schools) in Davao Oriental, where he stayed for many years. He also served as lecturer on Shariah law for those taking the Shariah bar examination.

MILF ISSUES DISCUSSED BY MURAD AT MEDIA FORUM-RIC CLET and MARIZ REVALES

Chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Central Committee Al Haj Murad Ebraim yesterday in  a press conference at camp Darapanan, Maguindanao in his opening statement  said that "this is an opportune time again to address several issues which you in the media want to clarify". He added that the MILF wish to set the record straight in the face of speculations that have since surfaced when the peace process was in a standstill.  He said that the  resumption of peace talks needs a consultations from their people  before they send their negotiating panel back to the negotiating table. "Several issues have emerged in the long intervening period between the last session of the MILF-GRP peace negotiations on June 3, 2010 under the dispensation of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the forthcoming resumption of talks this February, 2011 under the administration of President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III", Murad said. The MILF for the past consecutive days from January 25, 2011 a series of consultations were undertaken with leaders and members of the MILF, both political and military, as well as the Moro civil society. The meeting with the press yesterday that started at 9:30 in the morning marked the culmination of these consultations. "Since we started peace negotiations in 1997, our people position remains the same : the peaceful negotiated political settlement of the Bangsamoro Questions that would give due recognition to the right of the Bangsamoro  people to self determination" He noted. Murad told media groups who attended that the MILF has to take into serious account the sentiments of each  and every sector  of the people whose collective interest and aspiration the MILF represents whether  in the armed struggle  or in the peace negotiation. He said that MILF has to be consistent in their position of peaceful negotiated political settlement despite    the clamor that they go back to the demand for political independence. Murad in the open forum, admitted that MILF is having an internal problem involving former MILF's 105th Base Commander Umbra Kato,  MILF Chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim but also said that there is an open line of communication with him even after the video film (of Kato) was released to the public. In an earlier interview with Kato, he enumerated some of the issues he raised against the MILF that included the alleged revisionist policy of the current leadership headed by Murad in abandoning the Front's original stance of independence and that he was arbitrarily booted out of command. The MILF leadership confirmed that Kato was not stripped of his command but he voluntarily resigned, citing that old age is already creeping on him. The resignation is contained in a letter to the MILF leadership last year. "I believe this problem can still be resolved expeditiously and soon," Murad said after the press conference when interviewed by GMANews.TV. In a The Q&A session, Murad told reporters that Kato is forming a new military group which he called as  BIFF which means Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. Meanwhile, Abel Moya and Juanito Enriquez, Jr   represented the Civil Society groups from Iligan City. Moya  told GMANews.tv that they attended the press conference to listen to Murad  and to  support the peace process between the GRP-MILF.   He  appealed to the leadership of both panels to stay engaged with the peace process for a lasting solution to the elusive peace in Mindanao.   Enriquez,Managing director of the  Civil Society organization-Forum for Peace (CSO-FP) raised question on the issue of human rights violations citing the violations committed in the major all-out wars in2001,2003 and 2003.   Murad responded that at present, no cases was being filed in connection to  human rights violations committed. Murad also disclosed that numerous armed provocations violative of the ceasefire agreement, impasses in the negotiations and black propaganda that the MILF has been subjected to. Murad also said that no discussion of agenda for a compensation for those victims of human rights violations. Both panels are trying to stop human rights violations.   Murad in closing he said "that consistent with our policy of exhaustion of peace means in resolving the Bangsamoro question, Hopefully, if things turn out right an d the Philippine leadership this time is truly sincere, refrains from usual dilatory tactic and military aggression resorted to by previous Philippine administrations, and has the requisite  political will to address and resolve the bangsamoro question, I am optimistic  that in a short time we can come out with proper political  formula  from the negotiating table. We can have the beginning of a just peace in the Bangsamoro Homeland  in our time and gereration", Murad said.