Gov’t slates series of regional round-tables on peace process

Cagayan de Oro City (28 February) — A series of regional round-table discussions anchored on the government’s comprehensive peace process is slated this week in key cities in Mindanao, with various peace stakeholders expected to assess current efforts and map out strategies to enhance peacemaking and peace-building initiatives of the government.

Organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the “Regional Forum on the Comprehensive Peace Process” will bring discussion on peace efforts to the public halls in the cities of Cotabato, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro and Butuan. The same forum is also slated for Zamboanga City,

The first leg of series of Mindanao peace fora kicked off Thursday (23 February) at the Notre Dame University Gym in Cotabato City, followed by the General Santos leg on Friday at the Notre Dame Lagao Campus Gym, with members of civil society organizations, multi-sectoral groups, local government officials and other peace stakeholders expected to attend.

Supported by the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), the series of regional round-table discussions seek to update Mindanao stakeholders on the status of implementation of the national peace plan, including negotiations and local peacebuilding efforts of the government.

Also, the activity will include assessment of emerging issues, concerns and recommendations on effective implementation of peace initiatives in Mindanao, and the country in general. It will also afford opportunities for various stakeholders to propose mechanisms by which the government could forge appropriate responses to ongoing and future talks with rebel groups.

“Engaging our frontliners of peace in Mindanao is an important process in increasing confidence on the peace process as we work for common ground in sustaining the initiatives already put forward,” according to Sec. Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the peace process.

Dureza said the government is pursuing a comprehensive peace process agenda anchored on the principles of community participation; forging of new social impact for a just, equitable, humane and pluralistic society; and seeking principled and peaceful resolutions to armed conflicts.

Aside from Dureza, Undersecretaries Rene Sarmiento, Ramon Santos and Dimasangkay Pundato will present the government’s Comprehensive Peace Process, while government peace panel chair Sec. Silvestre Afable and panel members Prof. Rudy Rodil and Sylvia Paraguya will present the highlights and major breakthroughs in the ongoing negoitiations with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has prioritized termination of hostilities through a just conclusion of the process as one of her key policy strategies in the Medium Term Philippine Develompent Plan and the 10-Point Legacy Agenda by putting back on track the government’s negotiations with MILF and other rebel groups.

The government has also embarked on peacekeeping and peacebuilding interventions to compliment the peace negotiations being pursued such as relief and rehabilitation of conflict-affected and vulnerable areas in Mindanao through infrastructure, livelihood, education and other socio-economic development activities, in collaboration with several donor agencies. (MEDCo/PIA-10)

AFP southern forces back PGMA

by RG Alama

Davao City (28 February) — The full strength of Southern Command made up of various Armed Forces of the Philippines units in Mindanao and which constitutes 65% of the Philippine military’s total strength is still loyal to their commander-in-chief despite alleged reports of disenchantment coming from the country’s battle-hardened security forces.

“Southcom will remain under the chain of command and will not support any destabilization or coup plot against PGMA.” reiterated Major General Gabriel Habacon, commander of the Southern Command based in Zamboanga City.

Almost if not all of the AFP units in Mindanao have their hands full securing the southern regions from communist dissidents, rebel secessionists, bandits, criminal syndicates and hard-line Islamic terrorists. Thus many Military officials say they have no time, or intent and will resist joining any attempts to destabilize the present administration.

Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry Division commander Brig. Gen. Eugenio V. Cedo said the Tabak Division remains loyal to the chain of command. Brig. Gen. Cedo assured that not one of his officers and men has even an inch of sympathy to the “Magdiwang” or “Magdalo” groups.

Maj. General Cardozo Luna, commanding general of 4th Infantry Division, Philippine Army. “I have ordered our men in the field, particularly regions 10, 11 and 13 to follow the chain of command. We continue to perform our duties and remain loyal to the constitution.”

Various Military field commanders deployed in Mindanao have also voiced out their loyalty to the military’s chain-of-command particularly to their embattled lady Commander-in-chief President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Col. Jerry Jalandoni brigade commander of 602nd brigade covering Sultan Kudarat and the second district of Maguindanao expressed support to PGMA saying “We stand by the constitution and respect her mandate. We submit to the chain of command. The situation is normal in our AOR (area of responsibility).”

Col. Johnny Corcha, another Brigade commander coming from the Philippine Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade has maintained his unwavering support to PGMA and has assured that nobody of his men will withdraw support to the President. Soldiers of this Brigade are all behind PGMA.

Col. Eduardo del Rosario, commander of the Task Force Davao, the Army’s counter-terrorist unit tasked to secure the southern metropolis of Davao City. Has said that the soldiers under his command “remain united and committed in supporting the chain of command, the constitution and our commander-in-chief. We will never be a party to any move against the government.”

Even military units deployed in far-flung frontiers have voiced their loyalty for the present administration and her current measures to preempt a conspiracy to overthrow a duly constituted government.

Navy Capt. Rosauro Arnel Gonzales of the Naval Task Force 62 assigned in Tawi-Tawi; the country’s southernmost province said “Solid tayo para sa chin of command; para sa akin ok yang State of Emergency para masugpo yung karahasan na nakakasira sa pamahalaan ni PGMA.” (we are solid for the chain of command; for me the state of emergency is okay in order to control the violence that will destroy the Government of PGMA.)

Many commanders are also up against the collusion of the military adventurists with what they call communist terrorists in the reported conspiratorial efforts to topple the President.

Col. Carlos Quita commander of 27th Infantry Battalion, based in Tupi, South Cotabato siad the “the AFP is the strongest institution. We condemn the alliance of Magdalo and the NPA. This is the biggest form of treason. “Dito sa Battalion, solid tayo rito, miniting ko ang mga tao ko at diniin natin ang pagsunod sa chain of command mula sa Brigade Commander to the Commander-in-Chief.” (In this battalion, we are solid here, I met my men and stressed to them the value of our loyalty to the chain of command from the Brigade commander to the commander-in-chief). (PIA)

Issuance of travel advisories bad for tourism – MinBC

Davao City (28 February) — The recent events happening in Metro Manila which led to the issuance of travel advisories by some countries is really bad and not good for the country.

Mindanao Business Council chair Romeo Serra said the advisories are bad especially for tourism although other business opportunities abound at hand.

“But they (investors) are watching the situation as close as possible,” he said.

He said although it will take time, the result of the Asean Tourism Forum is about to be known,however with the recent events, businesses have to wait and see.

Earlier Department of Tourism (DOT) XI regional director Sonia Garcia said that the ATF brought good projection of the country especially Davao in the international market.

She said several reports about Davao were already posted globally and circulated in the foreign market projecting among others Davao as a destination.

She also said that slowly there has already been a shift in the perception of Mindanao and Davao as a peaceful and safe destination.

Garcia said they have to sustain their plan and strategy that includes a job’s fair in April and the Visayas Mindanao Travel Mart.

The travel and tour expo is also another activity that will promote wellness center.

“The people come with double purpose and giving them such idea could reinforce their interest of coming over,” she said.

She also said that they will have to meet tour operators to design packages. (PIA/pdbanzon)

Southern Mindanao leaders voice support for PGMA

by RG Alama

Davao City (28 February) — Various local Government officials from the local Government units comprising the Southern Mindanao region had voice their all-out support for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo following her issuance of Proclamation No. 1017 which places the Country under the State of National Emergency and the recent developments that followed particularly the stand-off at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio.

Last Sunday, Marine Col. Ariel Querubin together with some of his Marines and their armored tanks barricaded themselves at the Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio to protest the relief of their commandant Brig, Gen Renato Miranda, a standoff that has been peacefully resolved yesterday.

The Fort Bonifacio incident however exacerbated an already tense situation, which began when an attempt to overthrow the administration was discovered last Thursday, prompting the President to declare a State of National Emergency the immediate morning (Feb.24).

In contrast to the chaotic political storm in Manila, text messages yesterday from various local officials in a relatively calm Southern Mindanao region indicated their all-out support and loyalty to the duly constituted authority of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Davao Oriental Governor Maria Elena Palma Gil expressed support for PGMA saying the people in her province are still behind the President and that they rely on the steadfastness and wisdom of the President, praying that no blood of her countrymen will be expended.

Davao del Sur Benjamin Bautista Jr. of Davao del Sur has also said that he has remained a strong supporter of PGMA. Stating that his province has obtained so many projects from the national government under her term particularly the multi-billion-peso Malita-to-Malalag road where its completion would significantly boost the economic growth in the area.

Meanwhile Davao del Norte Vice Governor Anthony del Rosario viewed the National State of Emergency as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s way of safeguarding the welfare of the nation. “We have just started rebuilding our economy; we cannot allow any political instability to spoil signs of economic recovery.”

The regions municipal mayors and vice-mayors has also chipped in to back the President with Davao del Norte Mayors’ League president Leopoldo Monteroso of the Municipality of Asuncion belittling the opposition’s call for PGMA to step down citing, it as short of selfishly saying “Get out Gloria so we can take over.”

Monteroso said that the opposition had fallen short of producing their right leader.” The Davao del Norte Mayor’s League prexy has also blamed the destabilizers and saboteurs of the government for harming the economy.

Davao Oriental Mayors’ League President Afran Quiñones of the Municipality of Lupon said the National State of Emergency is a justifiable act of the President to contain possible rebellion as plotted by the power grabbers.

While, Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines vice-president for Mindanao Allan Rellon of Tagum City said that the opposition has done nothing in their call for PGMA to step down. He said they should instead help the President as he “believes that she is sincere in her pronouncement to help this country” move forward.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte also voiced his support for the President, stating that his loyalty emanates from her constitutional mandate but the Davao City Mayor said that his support is not absolute as he warned that the Proclamation 1017 is not a justification as to limit the civil liberties of the people particularly the right to free expression. (PIA)

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Davao anti-GMA rally draws around 300 people

Today, the 20th Anniversary of the People Power protests that brought Democracy back to the Philippines, and put Corazon Aquino into power in the Philippines, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo possibly institued the end of the political system that was being celebrated on this special day.

Early this morning, the action started when rumors ran wild that a coup attempt was in progress.  By noon, the Administration declared a State of Emergency, and the powers that GMA took were very close to being Martial Law, although not in name.  In all but name, today we witnessed the end of Freedom of the Press, and Freedom of Speech in general.  The government told Press outlets that they could be taken over by the government, if they wrote stories that were anti-government, or presumed to be so.  People were arrested without warrant, some were arrested for merely walking in the area of the EDSA shrine in Manila.

Here in Davao, by mid-afternoon, a rally came together near to Ateneo de Davao University, with people from many different political movements joining together to protest the events of the day. The main speaker at the rally was Randy Ponteras, from People’s Alternative Development Center.
Check the Mindanao Photoblog for many more pictures from the rally in Davao.  I will be posting them in the next couple of hours!