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Gov't to build P33.5-M
City’s evacuation center
The national government, through the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH), is set to construct a PhP33.5 million evacuation center to house families
displaced in times of calamities.
Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office
(CDRRMO) chief, on Monday said the construction of the evacuation center is
expected to commence next month and to be completed within 180 calendar days.
Apolinario said the evacuation center, which will consist of three
buildings, will be constructed in a 2,000 square meters lot in Barangay
Cabatangan, this city. It could accommodate 500 families.
He said the construction of the center is in compliance with Republic Act
10121 that requires every cities to have its own evacuation center.
He said there will be no more disruption of classes as schools always serve
as evacuation centers in time of calamities, both natural and man-made, once
the evacuation is in place.
He said that two more evacuation centers will be built in Barangay Talisayan
and another either in Curuan or Vitali.
“The moment we will have evacuation centers, the classes of the children
will not be disturbed,” he said citing schools will no longer be used as
evacuation centers.
At present, barangay covert courts and school classrooms serve as evacuation
centers for families displaced by calamities.
Last week, a total of 4,385 families consisting of 21,189 individuals were
house in barangay covert courts and classrooms as storm surge and flash flood
inundated 23 of this city’s 98 barangays.
Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and the entry of typhoon Paolo last
week into the country triggered the storm surge and flashflood in this city.
(PNA)
Xxxxxxxxxx
DTI announces prize freeze
The Department
of trade and Industry
( DTI) has announced a price freeze of all prime and basic
commodities following the declaration of State of calamity .
Ceferino Rubio
of the DTI city office said that the freeze is pursuant
to provisions of Republic act
No. 7581
- Price
Act .
The law says
that in times of matial law and state of calamity prices on all prime and
basic commodities remain on is prevailing regular price or price
freeze.
It is
automatically frozen on the date of declaration or state of calamity
,
Rubio said .Zamboanga
Most of these
barangays that were affected were flooded and the floods destroyed houses and agricultural products.
Xxxxxxx
Police reminders All Souls,
The local police authority has
reminded the public about the differentr restrictions already in place or are
being obserced during the observance of all souls day and all saints day.
These restrictions include the the bringing of bladed weapons, liquor bans
and among others to cemeteries.
All is set for this year’s
All Souls Day and All Saints Day onbservance.
Among the other prohibitions is the
100 meters set back away
from the cemetery edge entrance that
should be free of structures such as stores and the
selling of candles and flowers and the like.
Loud music will also be prohibited
.(Letty M.
Militante )
Xxxxxxx
2 fall in drug
buy-bust
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is filing drug charges against
two alleged known drug pushers arrested in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, a PDEA
official said Wednesday.
The charges will be filed against Ansar Jainal alias Badol, 33, and Alih
Esmail, 32, according to PDEA Regional Director Lyndon Aspacio.
Aspacio said that specifically, the cases to be filed will include
violations of Section 26 (Attempt or Conspiracy) in relation to Section 5
(Selling of Illegal Drugs) and Section 11 (Possession of Illegal Drugs) of
Article II of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as Comprehensive Dangerous
Drugs Act of 2002.
Aspacio said the two suspects were arrested in a buy-bust operation at
around 10:50 p.m. Monday along the national highway in Barangay Sanito, Ipil,
Zamboanga Sibugay.
He said the suspects were arrested after they sold a pack of suspected shabu
in exchange of Php500 to a PDEA agent who acted as poseur buyer.
He said confiscated from the suspects were PhP500 marked money, suspected
shabu packed in two plastic sachets and plastic straw worth PhP1,500, and
illegal drug paraphernalia.
He said the PDEA agents conducted the buy-bust operation with the assistance
of the policemen from Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, who acted as perimeter security.
(PNA)
Xxxxxxx
27 soldiers, cops cited for
gallantry as crisis ends
A total of 27 government troops, including four policemen, were awarded
medals for gallantry in action as the fighting in Marawi City
Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom chief, led the awarding of medals,
which was held separately at Camp Ranao , Marawi
City
Of the total awardees, 18 of them are from the 2nd and 3rd Scout Ranger
Battalions and Joint Task Group Bakal. They were awarded with Gold Cross Medals
on Saturday, October 21.
Five of the awardees, who also received Gold Cross Medals on Sunday, October
22, are from the Army’s 10th Infantry Battalion and Joint Task Group Vector.
Gold Cross Medals were also awarded on the same day to Senior Insp. Seth
Mark Alob and Police Officer 3 Isah Sangcad.
Galvez awarded Silver Cross Medals to Supt. Rolando Anduyan and Supt. Danilo
Bacas for imminently meritorious and valuable achievement rendered while
serving as Joint Task Group PNP (Philippine National Police) Commander and
Assistant Commander, who led several accomplishments of the police during the
Marawi crisis.
Command Plaque were also awarded to the following: Brig. Gen. Corletoo
Vinluan, Joint Task Force Vector commander; Senior Supt. Anduyan, Joint Task
Group PNP commander; Brig. Gen. Budiongan, Joint Task Group Bakal; and, other
battalion commanders for their sterling leadership while leading their troops
during the battle.
Galvez said they were recognized for their conspicuous gallantry in action,
courage, dedication, and commitment during the conduct of the close-quarter
battle against more or less 1,000 members of the Maute-Abu Sayyaf Group-Islamic
State of Iraq and Syria for
almost five months in Marawi
City
The five-month stand-off yielded to the neutralization of 920 terrorists,
rescue of 1,780 hostages, and recovery of more than 800 high-powered firearms
and almost 2,000 unexploded ordnances, improvised explosive devices and booby
traps of the terrorists.
“Congratulations, Marawi troopers, for making the Armed Forces of the Philippines and
the Filipinos proud. Your commitment and gallantry liberated the City of Marawi and the Maranaos
from terrorism,” Galvez told the awardees
“I thank you for your service and sacrifices. I am so proud of you all,” he
added. (PNA)
Xxxxxxx
Zambo archdiocese ready
for National Youth Day
The Archdiocese of Zamboanga announced Tuesday that all is set for the
staging of the five-day 2017 National Youth Day from November 6 to 10 in this
city.
Zamboanga Archbishop Romulo Dela Cruz said a total 2,342 youths from across
the country, including 175 local pilgrims, are expected to join the five-day
event.
The participants are youths and single aged 13 to 39 as defined by the
church.
During the NYD celebration, Dela Cruz said the participants will tackle the
following: social issues; social media; human trafficking; promoting social
advocacy; arts and culture appreciation; and, other relevant issues.
The youth-participants will be housed by their respective Zamboangueño
foster parents.
“Thank God the problem in Marawi
City
He said this year’s NYD is anchored on the theme: “The Mighty One has done
great things for me, and Holy is his name (Luke 1:49).” (PNA)
Xxxxxxx
Soldier shot dead in Pagadian
The police are conducting an in-depth investigation to identify the two
gunmen behind the gun slay of a soldier early Tuesday in Pagadian City,
Zamboanga del Sur.
The Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) identified the victim as Cpl. Rhufel
Lihay-Lihay, 39, of the Army’s First Infantry Division.
Police Officer 3 Joel Limbo, the case investigator, said that Lihay-Lihay,
of Santa Maria , Pagadian City
Limbo said that initial investigation showed that the victim was playing
billiards at Fontanilla’s residence located on Urro corner Bana Street , Barangay Santa Maria, when
two gunmen appeared and repeatedly shot him at closed range.The police said the
victim fell dead while the suspects fled aboard a motorcycle.
Limbo said recovered from the crime scene were 11 empty shells of caliber
.45 pistol and 13 cartridge of .9-mm pistol as well as five deformed slugs.
He said they are looking into all the possible motive of the incident in a
bid to establish the identity and possibly arrest the suspects. (PNA)
Xxxxxxx
Floods, storm damages
P15-M infra in Zambo
The City Engineer’s Office recorded more than PhP15 million worth of
infrastructures have been damaged by the recent flashflood and storm surge in
this city.
Flashflood and storm surge spawned by intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
and the entry of typhoon Paolo in the country inundated last week 23 of this
city’s 98 barangays.
Christopher Navarro, officer-in-charge of the City Engineer’s Office, on Monday
disclosed that most of the damaged infrastructures are slope protection,
spillway and cross drain.
Navarro said they will redesign the structure of slope protection to make it
weather resilient to prevent similar destruction in the future.
He said they will also tap the assistance of the barangay officials to
disallow people from building houses along riverbanks.
“The purpose of the slope protection is to protect soil erosion. The
presence of riverbank dwellers affect the integrity of the slope protection
structures due to improper waste water disposal,” he said.
Navarro said riverbank dwellers are vulnerable to flashflood in times of
inclement weather condition. (PNA)
Xxxxxxx
10-year passport validity law to
take effect January 2018: DFA
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday signed the
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10928 which extends
the validity of the Philippine passport to 10 years.
The official disclosed that the IRR would take effect on January 1, 2018.
"Bakit di effective right away? Kasi yung passport po
may mga agencies all around the world and may notices, kung
i-approve natin dito nang 'di alam ng ibang bansa, baka kuwestiyunin
kayo (Why is it not effective immediately? Because as for the passport,
there is a need to notify agencies around the world. If we approve that here
without informing other countries, we might be questioned.)," he
explained.
He said two months from its implementation date is "enough time"
to inform other states that the Philippines
would be extending its passport validity to 10 years.
He added that the booklet would be priced similar to the current passport
with a 5-year validity.
"This won't be having a price increase since you will be getting the
same basic passport," he addressed the public in a statement delivered
through his official page.
The updated passport fee for express processing is PHP1,200 while the normal
processing is PHP950.
The normal processing time for passports is up to 20 working days while
express processing is within 10 working days.
Cayetano, however, said under the law, applicants 18 years old and below
would only be given passports with a 5-year validity.
"(Applicants) below 18 years old, nagbabago pa yung mukha so
it's better na after 18 years old, once expired na yung passport, doon
lang i-renew para mag-10-years," he said.
The DFA chief, for his part, extended his gratitude to President Rodrigo
Duterte and Congress for the swift passage of the law.
Cayetano explained that the IRR formulation was delayed for some time due to
"extensive" and "exhaustive" consultation with the House of
Representatives.
"We will continue to work with Congress so as to produce an enhanced
physical passport," he assured. (PNA)
xxxxxxx
Abu Sayyaf beheads
ex-barangay chief
A former barangay official was executed by beheading by alleged members of
the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in the nearby province of Basilan
Senior Supt. Nickson Muksan, Basilan police director, identified the victim as
Hadji Najer Bohong, 58, former barangay chair of Mahatalang, Sumisip town.
Muksan disclosed that the decapitated cadaver of Bohong was found by his
relatives at around 10 a.m. Sunday in Sitio Upper Bato Lareg, Barangay
Mahatalang.
He said investigation showed the victim went to Sitio Upper Bato Lareg on
Saturday purposely to pick up Yakal round timber to be used in his house.
But he said that investigation further showed the followers of ASG
sub-leader Furuji Indama seized the victim who was reported missing since then.
He said the relatives took the victim’s decapitated remains to Sitio Matias,
Barangay Tumahubong, Sumisip where they buried him at around 5 p.m. Sunday.
The victim’s head is still missing. (PNA)
Xxxxxxx
Voters registration to
resume in November
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will resume next month the continuing
registration of voters for the May 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan
Elections (BSKE).
In Resolution No. 10214, dated Tuesday, the poll body said qualified voters
for the village and youth polls may register from November 6 to 30, 2017.
“In view of the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan
Elections (BSKE), there is a need to resume the conduct of registration of
voters for the members of the Katipunan ng Kabataan (KK) who will reach fifteen
(15) years old pursuant to Republic Act No. 10742 and regular voters for the
Barangay in connection with the May 14, 2018 Synchronized BSKE,” the resolution
added.
Applications should be filed at the Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs)
in their area, from Monday to Saturday including holidays from 8 a.m to 5 p.m.
“Applications for registration, reactivation, change/correction of entries
and inclusion/reinstatement of records in the list of voters shall be
personally filed at the Offices of the Election Officer (OEOs) of the
city/district/municipality where the applicant resides, during office hours,
from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Mondays to Saturdays including holidays from November
6, 2017 (Monday) to November 30, 2017 (Thursday).”
The Comelec said that OEOs may conduct satellite/offsite registration of
voters during the period of registration.
It, however, noted that the resumption of system of continuing registration
of voters shall be conducted nationwide, except in the province of Lanao del Sur.
The poll body added that it would not process applications for transfer of
registration records. (PNA)
Xxxxxxx
Solon seeks probe-sale
of gov't-funded houses
The National Housing Authority (NHA)
has been urged to investigate the sale of houses built through the Zamboanga
City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) in this city.
Xxxxxxx
6 kids, 3 others
rescued off Basilan
Nine people, including six children,
were rescued while drifting off Basilan province amid the inclement weather
condition, the Coast Guard reported Saturday.Isabela
City Isabela City
when the latter spotted the victims drifting near Baluk-Baluk Island Dasalan Island ,
Hadji Muhtamad aboard F/B Jolina en route to Isabela City port of Isabela
xxxxxxx
Boat
capsizes;
2 crew missing
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
launched search and rescue operation to locate the two missing light boat crew
that capsized off Basilan province, a PCG official disclosed Saturday.Western Mindanao has been experiencing inclement weather condition the past days
due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and with the entry of Typhoon
Paolo into country.Sunrise
xxxxx
Troops pullouts
start in Marawi
The Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) has started withdrawing forces as the fighting against the Daesh-inspired
Maute group nears end in Marawi
City Marawi Camp
Ranao , Marawi City Luzon for an impending unit
enhancement training.Marawi
City
xxxxx
Fisherman
dies
in lightning hit Zamboanga City
xxxxx
Storm surge
hits 3
Bongao barangays Tawi-Tawi Western
Mindanao area had been experiencing inclement weather condition
since Sunday brought about by the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and
with the entry of Typhoon Paolo into the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
(PNA)
xxxx
Gov't
troops remain
on guard in
Marawi
Following President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s
declaration of the liberation of Marawi, Malacañang on Saturday assured
the Filipino public that the government would continue to be on guard against
any remaining terrorist in the area.
xxxx
AFP
welcomes yields
of terrorists' relatives
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)
on Friday welcomed the move of some relatives of terrorists Isnilon
Hapilon and Omar Maute to lay down their arms and surrender to the government.Fort Magsaysay Marawi City Mindanao Mindanao would not be lifted until the last terrorist had
been taken out.Mindanao .
The President is duty-bound not to compromise public safety,” Abella stressed.
xxxxx
Debris
could be
Marawi's friend
Battle-scarred Marawi City Marawi City Marawi
City
Solon seeks probe-sale
of gov't-funded houses
The National Housing Authority (NHA)
has been urged to investigate the sale of houses built through the Zamboanga
City Roadmap to Recovery and Reconstruction (Z3R) in this city.
Second District Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe
on Thursday made the call for investigation following reports that some of the
Z3R houses’ occupants are selling the housing units they received from the
government.
Photos of some of the housing units
being sold are even posted in social media sites with the corresponding price
and the person to be contacted.
The city government has so far recorded
eight cases of attempts to sell houses built through the Z3R.
Dalipe noted the Z3R houses were built
by the NHA for the victims of the 2013 Zamboanga siege. It is a low-cost
housing project with the condition the beneficiaries cannot sell the housing
units.
Yahya Abdusalam, Z3R focal person, said
the houses that were reportedly placed on sale are within the Vale Vista
housing project in Barangay Kasanyangan.
But Abdusalam said the occupants of the
houses denied that they are selling their housing units when they conducted an
on-site investigation.
He said the certificate of award will
automatically be canceled if proven the Z3R housing beneficiary is selling his
or her housing unit.
He said they will be also disqualified
perpetually to benefit in any of the government housing program.
Dalipe said the beneficiaries should
not sell the houses since it was given by the government as their permanent
shelter. (PNA)
6 kids, 3 others
rescued off Basilan
Nine people, including six children,
were rescued while drifting off Basilan province amid the inclement weather
condition, the Coast Guard reported Saturday.
Lieutenant Commander (LCdr.) Alvin
Dagalea, Zamboanga Coast Guard Station commander, said they were rescued around
12 noon Friday by a motorboat named Superfadz skippered by Najer Saabdullah of
Barangay Tampalan, Isabela
City
Dagalea said Saabdullah was sailing to Isabela City
when the latter spotted the victims drifting near Baluk-Baluk Island
Investigation showed the victims departed
Dasalan Island ,
Hadji Muhtamad aboard F/B Jolina en route to Isabela City
They revealed that F/B Jolina capsized
around 10 a.m. after they were battered by big waves coupled with strong winds.
The victims managed to stay together
while drifting at sea until Saabdullah rescued them.
They arrived at the port of Isabela
The Zamboanga Coast Guard Station has
suspended boat trips to the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi from this
city due to rough seas spawned by inclement weather condition.
This region had been experiencing
inclement weather due to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and the
entry of Typhoon Paolo into the country.
2222222222222
Boat
capsizes;
2 crew missing
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
launched search and rescue operation to locate the two missing light boat crew
that capsized off Basilan province, a PCG official disclosed Saturday.
The search and rescue was launched
after the Zamboanga Coast Guard Station received report that a light boat of
the Sunrise fishing firm capsized at around 9 a.m. Saturday near Baluk-Baluk
Island, Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan.
Lieutenant Commander (LCdr.) Alvin
Dagalea, Zamboanga Coast Guard Station commander, said the light boat with four
crew capsized after it was battered by big waves coupled with strong winds
spawned by inclement weather condition.
Dagalea said two of the crew were
already rescued by the sister ship of the ill-fated light boat.
But Dagalea disclosed that the light
boat’s skipper and chief mate are still missing and are subject of the search
and rescue operations.
He said coordination and monitoring has
also been undertaken in a bid to rescue the two missing crew of the
locally-based Sunrise
“Our efforts to rescue them continues.
Our personnel are still in the area,” he added. (PNA)
33333333333333
Troops pullouts
start in Marawi
The Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) has started withdrawing forces as the fighting against the Daesh-inspired
Maute group nears end in Marawi
City
Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western
Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, on Friday spearheaded the send-off
ceremony as the Army’s 1st Infantry Battalion departed the besieged city of Marawi
Galvez awarded Silver Cross Medal to
Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus, 1st Infantry Battalion commander, during the
send-off ceremony held at 7 a.m. amid the drizzle in Camp
Ranao , Marawi City
Similar medals were also awarded to the
three company commanders as well as Command Plaque to the same Army Battalion.
“Maintain the highest dignity of a
soldier. As much as we want to have you here, we need to let you go. Our oath
is to serve the people and maintain the integrity of our country,” Galvez told
the troops during the send-off ceremony.
Tampus also rendered a completeness
report to Galvez and Maj. Gen. Danilo Pamonag, Joint Task Force Marawi
commander.
“I laud the men and women of the 1st
Infantry Battalion for their dedicated service and for being here at the onset
of the Marawi siege. My gratitude to you for a job well done,” Pamonag said.
A showdown inspection was also
conducted during the send-off ceremony. The showdown was to ensure that the
troops have not taken any valuables from the main battle area.
The Army’s 1st Infantry Battalion is
returning to Luzon for an impending unit
enhancement training.
The battalion was among the unit of
troops to reinforce the soldiers in Marawi
City
The fighting broke out when Maute group
members went berserk after the troops raided the hideout of the slain Abu
Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon on May 23.
Hapilon and Omar Maute, one of the
Maute group leaders, were killed in an intense fighting at dawn Monday.
Galvez said the 1st Infantry Battalion
has successfully rescued 34 hostages held captives by the Maute group and the
recovery of assorted firearms.
“Thank you for your dedicated service,”
Galvez told the troops of the “Always First” Battalion, adding: “I am so proud
of you.” (PNA)
55555555555555555
Fisherman dies
in lightning hit A young fisherman died while his father was unscathed in a
lightning strike offshore this city, the police reported Friday.
The Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO)
identified the fatality as Jakter Pailan, 15, of Barangay Taluksangay, this
city.
Pailan’s father, Janla, who was with
him was lucky to be unscathed during the incident that occurred around 3 p.m.
Wednesday.
Janla told the police that they were
fishing in the waters off Taluksangay amid the inclement weather condition when
lightning struck killing instantly his son.
Janla’s son was buried in accordance
with Muslim rites.
6666666666666666666666
Storm surge hits 3
Bongao barangays
Close to 200 families have been
displaced by storm surge triggered by Tropical Storm Paolo in Bongao, the
capital town of Tawi-Tawi
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Bongao reported that the storm surge happened
Thursday evening, hitting three coastal villages.
Of the total affected families, the
Bongao MDRRMO said that 71 families are from Barangay Lamion; 63 from Tubig
Tanah; and 47 from Sumandagit.
The displaced families are housed at
the covered courts of Barangays Tubig Tanah and Pag-asa.
The municipal government has assisted
the displaced families with initial supply of water and biscuits as they arrive
at the evacuation centers.
On Friday morning, they were provided
with hot porridge (aroz caldo).
The municipal government is also giving
food packs to the displaced families.
Most of the Western
Mindanao area had been experiencing inclement weather condition
since Sunday brought about by the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and
with the entry of Typhoon Paolo into the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
(PNA)
7777777777777777
Gov't
troops remain
on guard in
Marawi
Following President Rodrigo Roa
Duterte’s declaration of the liberation of Marawi, Malacañang on Saturday
assured the Filipino public that the government would continue to be on guard
against any remaining terrorist in the area.
In a statement aired over Radio
Pilipinas, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella stressed that the start of
the military pullout in Marawi does not signal the end of fighting between
government troops and stragglers of the Maute terrorist group.
“While enemy force has greatly
diminished, we will continue to be alert and assure the residents of the city
that we will not compromise its security with the presence of some units of the
Armed Forces,” Abella said.
The Palace official guaranteed that the
government would not drop its guard for possible threats coming from the
remaining network of the ISIS-inspired terror group, which may still be
operating while the rehabilitation of Marawi is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Palace also announced
that authorities have put closure on the death of Michael Siaron, a suspected
drug personality whose photo created a buzz after it was compared to the Pieta
image.
Abella said ballistics examination from
a recovered firearm revealed that Siaron was killed by a member of a syndicate
also involved in the illegal drug trade.
According to Abella, this report
verifies the government’s claim from the start that many drug-related killings
in the country were actually perpetrated by those involved in drug operations,
as drug traffickers and pushers try to eliminate each other.
“The relentless attribution of such
killings to police operations was both premature and unfair to law-abiding
enforcement officers who risk life and limb to stop the proliferation of
illegal drugs in our society,” the official noted.
“Government assures the public and the
families of victims of deaths under investigation that authorities will pursue
cases until the truly guilty are brought before the bar of justice,” he
added. (PND)
8888888888888888888888
AFP
welcomes yields
of terrorists' relatives
The Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP) on Friday welcomed the move of some relatives of terrorists Isnilon
Hapilon and Omar Maute to lay down their arms and surrender to the government.
“We are happy to note that there is
some sense entering into the minds of all these relatives who bear arms and who
have been part of the network. And as the days go by, let this be (the)
good message to all these armed individuals and armed elements,” AFP
spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., said during the regular Mindanao
Hour press briefing in Malacañang.
“Maging magandang mensahe po sana itong mga
nangyayari sa Marawi na talagang determinado ang Armed Forces at ang ating
pamahalaan na i-address lahat ng mga armadong grupo upang talagang
manatiling safe ang ating mga kanayunan at ang ating mga
siyudad,” he added.
The AFP spokesperson also asked the
public’s cooperation to work hand-in-hand with the government in addressing the
issue of loose firearms.
“Hangga’t hindi po naibabalik at naisu-surrender lahat ng mga loose
firearms, ‘yung
mga armas na hindi dapat nasa kamay ng mga tao na wala namang lisensya at hindi
naman dapat naghahawak ng armas, dapat makuha po natin lahat ‘yan nang sa
ganun, masabi nating ganap na maayos ang ating mga komunidad,” he
said.
The AFP official meanwhile confirmed
the death of Malaysian terrorist Dr. Mahmud Ahmad, who helped finance the
Marawi siege, and said that the AFP is in the process of recovering the
terrorist’s body.
He said Mahmud’s death was verified
through a first-person account of a hostage who knew Mahmud and saw the events
unfolding.
“He died during the assault of our
troops the other day -- or the other night, where 12 other rebels died. And we
are (in) the process of recovering the body of Dr. Mahmud,” Padilla said.
He also announced the successful rescue
of 10 more hostages.
“With the number of hostages that have
been rescued in the last 24 hours, we look forward to getting the rest of the
hostages and [to] addressing the armed threat that still exists,” Padilla
assured.
“We are giving it our best and we’re
doing all that we can so that we can end these hostilities in this part of
Marawi,” he added.
Following President Rodrigo Roa
Duterte’s declaration of the liberation of Marawi, Padilla said the AFP would
now be shifting its forces to other areas for their required training and
scheduled battalion activities.
“They will also be going back to Luzon
for a much-needed break and for their long-delayed training in Fort Magsaysay
He clarified, however, that there are
still units deployed in the war-torn city to continuously ensure the security
of the people during the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase.
“Most of this will be dependent also in
the key sector or areas in Marawi that they are holding. If these are
relatively safe, then we will free up our units to depart,” Padilla said.
Padilla then sought the patience and
understanding of the Marawi residents who are planning to return to their
homes.
He said evacuees are still not allowed
to enter the inner parts of the city until the AFP’s clearing operations are
completed.
The AFP official stressed the need to
clear all areas of all possible hazards like improvised explosive devices
(IEDs), booby traps, and other unexploded ordnances, before allowing residents
to return.
“Kinakailangan hanapin po natin lahat ng naiwang mga
bomba na hindi pumutok, mga patibong na iniwan na hindi po namin nakita, at mga
bagay na maaaring makasakit sa inyo,” Padilla stressed.
“Kaya hinihingi po namin ang pasensya at pag-unawa
ng lahat. ‘Pag oras na po na kami’y ganap na sigurado na hindi na po talaga ito
magiging balakid, kami po’y magbibigay ng senyales at makikipag-ugnayan sa local
government upang
pahintulutan na po ito,” he added.
For his part, Office of Civil Defense
(OCD) Assistant Secretary Kristoffer Purisima said a massive cleanup drive
dubbed as “Brigada Marawi” is continuously being conducted in affected areas.
The initiative, which was launched on
Oct.4, is led by the local government of Marawi, with the assistance of the
AFP.
“As of yesterday, Oct. 19, 22 barangays
benefitted from the cleanup drive and more sectors and stakeholders are joining
the Marawi City
Purisima also gave updates on the
Post-Conflict Needs Assessment (PCNA) of affected areas. He said the
inter-agency PCNA teams already assessed 10 barangays to date, with 16 more
barangays yet to be visited.
Martial law still in effect in Mindanao
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson
Ernesto Abella reiterated the President’s statement that martial law in Mindanao would not be lifted until the last terrorist had
been taken out.
The Cabinet official said the death of
the ringleaders of the Marawi rebellion, including Omar Maute, Isnilon Hapilon,
and Mahmud Ahmad, do not automatically result in the lifting of martial law.
“There are remnants, including networks
supporting the Maute -- the Maute cause within Mindanao .
The President is duty-bound not to compromise public safety,” Abella stressed.
On the other hand, Abella explained
that President Duterte would still confer with the members of his Cabinet
Security, the Justice and Peace Cluster in particular, to come up with a
decision on the matter.
He said the President would discuss the
necessary action to be taken with the Secretary of National Defense, who is the
designated martial law administrator, and the AFP Chief of Staff, who is the
designated martial law implementor.
No sacred government exec
Following President Duterte’s
announcement that he sacked an undersecretary of the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) due to allegations of corruption, Abella, in the same press
briefing, said this development shows no government official is sacred under
Duterte’s administration.
“The President’s action highlights that
no government official is sacred under this administration,” Abella said.
“Let this be a reminder to all public
officers that we are all here, not for ourselves but for the greater good,” he
added. (PND)
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Debris could
be
Marawi's friend
Rehabilitation work for Marawi may
include the use of rubble from structures destroyed following months of
fighting between government troops and terrorists, National Solid Waste
Management Commission (NSWMC) Secretariat Executive Director Eligio Ildefonso
said.
"Using most of that rubble will
reduce the cost of rehabilitation there," he said, adding that this would
enable Marawi to literally retain part of its past.
Ildefonso noted that using the rubble
is in line with the three Rs of solid waste management (SWM) -- reduce, re-use,
and recycle.
"It's still within the ambit of
Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological SWM Act of 2000)," he said.
RA 9003 promotes the three Rs to help
protect the environment and reduce the volume of solid waste for disposal.
Terrorists linked to the Maute Group
attacked Marawi City
However, after recently declaring
Marawi liberated from terrorist influence, the government is already preparing
to rehabilitate the city.
Ildefonso said Marawi's rubble can be
used as filling material, or to define planting strips.
"There are creative ways of using
the rubble," he said, urging the people to look into the matter instead of
merely hauling the debris and disposing them in other areas.
Ildefonso is also advocating waste
segregation in Marawi
City
Aside from the rubble, he said, waste
there consists of various trash with potential for either recycling, re-use or
composting.
Segregation will show which of the
trash can still undergo such processes, he said.
The resulting recycled, re-used or
composted products, can be for sale or for personal use, he noted.
RA 9003 requires the establishment of
materials recovery facilities (MRFs) either in barangay (village) or barangay
clusters nationwide.
"The MRF shall receive mixed waste
for final sorting, segregation, composting, and recycling," reads RA 9003.
Resulting residual wastes "shall
be transferred to a long-term storage or disposal facility or sanitary
landfill," it states. (PNA)