Use of “Blue Guards” during election period, opposed by Mayor Guiani

Cotabato City  - Mayor Japal J. Guiani, Jr. has expressed his opposition to a position of the Comelec Resolution No. 1951 - A pertaining to the use of the services of private security agencies to serve as bodyguards during the election period.

In a letter addressed to Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brilliantes, Mayor Guiani has stated his fear that these private security agencies may be used, in one way or the other, by unscrupulous individuals of groups in partisan election activities.

“It is a fact that there are politicians, particularly in the ARMM, who own and operate private security agencies. Thus, these private security guards are primarily indebted and loyal to their employer and not to the one they are assigned to look after”,

Moreover, the Mayor stated that in Cotabato City, it is more preferred to have the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Philippine National Police be assigned to politicians as body guards because of the fact that their allegiance is to the Republic of the Philippines and are duty bound to uphold the law. They are unlike the “blue guards” who are beholden to their respective security agencies who have their own political affiliations.

Meanwhile, with the current gun ban, Mayor Guiani has requested the Philippine Marines and the City PNP to intensify their operation kapkap bakal in all their checkpoints, concentrating on motorcycles.

“We all know that the guns for hire are all reported to be riding in tandem on a motorcycle so we want to make sure that all motorcyclists getting inside the city have no firearms with them. But also, four wheel timevehicles must also be given proper inspection all the ”

Visibility patrols of the Philippine Marines will also be intensified. The motorcycle-riding MBLT-1 members are roaming around the city day by day and are also conducting surprise checkpoints in different areas.

Furthermore, a request has also been forwarded by the City Barangay Officials to the PNP and the Philippine Army stating their need for the presence of even just one uniformed member to join them in conducting patrols around their communities since their tanods are no longer allowed to carry firearms because of the existing gun ban.

Breaking of Jar.....

What is the Significance of Breaking a Glass, Plates, Mirror and Jars…?

These belief started way back….and still practiced in our times….

In Beliefs & Traditions….

Some says, it shoos away bad luck…

Some says, it teaches us to remember and realized that in times of happiness there will always be sorrows and sadness…

Some says, it frightens evil spirit…

In Marriage….

Some says, it’s a reminder for the couple of their promises made…

In Politics….

Some says, it will take away all the bad lucks, experiences, sufferings and pain and broke it into small pieces… and eventually brings hope, respect, love, unity and peace….

Just like Governor Esmael G. Mangudatu, did. He broke jars after the 2^nd Regional Forum on The Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro held January 10, 2013 @ the Buluan Gymnasium Grounds, Maguindanao. Hoping for all the good vibes to come.

  
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It’s a simple thought and realization, that even in times of great happiness, we are always be mindful of our responsibility to help in relieving some pains and sufferings…and prayers will always be powerful…..

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Not all Cops are Bad.....

Cotabato City cop, named one of the Most Outstanding in the Country

The City Government of Cotabato commends one of the city’s police officers after winning the 2012 Search for the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) sponsored by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc., Rotary Club of New Manila East, and PSBank.

( photo from: www.cops.ph )

Police Officer 3 Mary Jane Perez won in the Police Non Commissioned Officers Category. She is currently assigned at Police Station 4, Manday. Mother Barangay Bagua, this city. Perez is currently designated as the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD), Family Juvenile Gender Awareness and Development (FJGAD), Police Community Relation (PCR), and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Officer.

PO3 Perez, a mother of four children, was chosen to be one of the winners because of all her accomplishments in crime solution including the arrest of a rape suspect, rescue of an abducted minor, and the arrest of a drug user. She also displayed exemplary performance in crime prevention and actively involved herself in advocating for peace in barangays, going around schools for the DARE program, and also helped in solving environmental problems by participating in tree planting activities and the de-clogging of the Rio Grande de Mindanao.

“I am very proud that out of the thousands of police officers in the country, PO3 Perez was chosen the prestigious award. I can say that this is a big accomplishment for our law enforcers and this award further proves to our people that we still have virtuous police officers in our area”, Mayor Guiani said.

City Mayor Japal J. Guiani, Jr. said he is very proud of a native Cotabateña who has given her full commitment to serving the people and protecting the most vulnerable sector of the community from abuses. He said the award given to PO3 Perez should serve as an inspiration and motivation for her fellow police officers to follow her example.

By winning in this search, PO3 Perez will join the elite roster of the outstanding police officers of our country and each of them will receive a trophy and a cash prize of 300,000 Pesos.

The awarding was held last September 5, 2012.

The One Who Completes Me.....

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2nd Regional Forum on FAB :-)

Able to attend and witnessed  “ The 2^nd REGIONAL  FORUM on the FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT  on the BANGSAMORO”  held January 10, 2012 @ the Municipal Gymnasium of Buluan, Maguindanao. Hosted by the Provincial Government of Maguindanao under the Leadership of Hon. ESMAEL “Toto” G. MANGUDADATU.

The 5 Governors of the 5 Provinces of ARMM were in attendance together with the ARMM Governor himself Hon. Mujiv Hataman, Representatives of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Government of the Philipines, Mayors of the different Municipalities and other Honourable Gentlemen and Women, as well.

Hereunder  are the 7 (seven) Resolutions Proposed, Presented and Approved:

    1.  A RESOLUTION NO. 001-13 – Earnestly urging the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Transition Commission to recognize the Vital and Indispensable role of Non-Muslims and Lumads in the meaningful implementation of the proposed Bangsamoro Government; (Proponent-MAGUINDANAO).

         2. A RESOLUTION NO. 002-13 – Urging the GPH, MILF, and the 5 Provincial Governors of AMM to convene on the determination on the participation and representation of the LGU’S in the BANGSAMORO TRANSITION COMMISSION and  BANGSAMORO TRANSITION AUTHORITY and for the other related issues and concerns; (Proponent-Tawi-Tawi).

          3. A RESOLUTION NO. 003-13 – Commendation of Hon. ESMAEL G. MANGUDADATU, Province of Maguindanao for Hosting the 2^nd Regional Forum on FAB in MAGUINDANAO PROVINCE; (Proponent- Tawi-Tawi).

          4. A RESOLUTION NO. 004-13 – Invitation to the next Regional Forum Constituents from the Plebiscitary areas outside ARMM; (Proponent-Basilan).

         5.  A REOLUTION NO. 005-13 – Reiteration of the RESOLUTION NO. 14 ADOPTED IN SULU LAST DECEMBER 04, 2012; (Poponent-Basilan).

RESOLUTION NO. 14-12

  A RESOLUTION CALLING ALL THE GOVERNORS OF THE PROVINCES OF BASILAN, LANAO DEL SUR, MAGUINDANAO, SULU AND TAWI-TAWI TO CONSTITUTE A COORDINATION FORUM FOR THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT.

6.  A RESOLUTION NO. 006-13 – Urging the 5 Governors of ARMM for a ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN on FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT on the BANGSAMORO in their respective Province using TRI-MEDIA and Providing funds thereof;  (Proponent-Lanao del Sur).

 7.  A RESOLUTION NO. 007-13 – Urging the TRANSITION COMMISSION to conduct a Grassroot, Meaningful and Extensive Consultation on the Five (5) Provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as to the Proposed Basic Laws to be drafted by the Transition Commission as called for in Resolutions No. 4 & 5 series of 2012 during the 1^st Regional Forum on Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro held in the Province of Sulu on December 4, 2012.

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   With these resolutions approved, may the REAL INTENTIONS AND MOTIVES of each individual be laid upon and not just for REEL, coz if I’ll translate its acronym “FAB” (Framework  Agreement on the Bangsamoro), it’s a short word for FABULOUS or FABULOUSITY.

   SITUATION:  A person must dressed in a FABULOUS  way to gain an extreme attention and power, to be the centre of interests judged thru his outer appearance and not on what lies within…

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What, Why, When & How on FAB

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON THE BANGSAMORO

WHO OR WHAT IS THE BANGSAMORO?

• Ø  Those who at the time of conquest and colonization were considered natives or original inhabitants of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago and its adjacent islands including Palawan and their descendents whether mixed or full native blood shall have the right to identify themselves as Bangsamoro by ascription or self-ascription. Spouses and their descendents shall also enjoy this right. The freedom of choice of other Indigenous Peoples shall be respected.

WHAT IS THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON THE BANGSAMORO?

• Ø   The Framework Agreement outlines the general features of the political settlement between the Government of the Philippines(GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front(MILF). It defines the structure and power of the Bangsamoro entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao(ARMM). It also sets the principles, processes and mechanisms for the transition until the regular election in 2016 for the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Political Entity. The Agreement paves the way forward to the just resolution of the historical divide between the Government and the Bangsamoro.

    photo by: Zamboanga South Wall

WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR A FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT? ITS SIGNIFICANCE?

• Ø  The Framework Agreement puts together the points of consensus achieved in the series of talks between the GPH and the MILF that took off with the forging of the Ceasefire Agreement in 1997. It elaborates on the nature of the political entity that will replace ARMM. This new entity shall be called the Bangsamoro. The document also charts the road map or the steps and mechanisms for the transition leading to the creation of the Bangsamoro. The road map can aptly be described as an inclusive and people-driven process.

AFTER SIGNING OF THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT, WHAT’S NEXT?

• Ø  The President will issue an Executive Order that will create the Transition Commission(TC). Eight (8) members of the TC shall be selected by the MILF; seven (7) shall be selected by the GPH. Both parties are committed to make the TC representative of the different sectors and groups in the Bangsamoro

•  Ø  The TC shal work on a draft Bangsamoro Basic Law. The draft law shall then be submitted to Congress for deliberation. Once the Bangsamoro Basic Law is passed and signed by the President, a plebiscite shall be conducted in the envisioned cire territory of the Bangsamoro. Elections for the new Bangsamoro Government will held in 2016.

• Ø  As the TC is being organized, the panels will continue to work on the Annexes. Aspects of the Agreement that do not require legislative action, such as those on development and normalization, will simultaneously be implemented through the different joint transition mechanisms that will be created.

WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE ARMM?

• Ø  As envisioned, the Bangsamoro shall replace the ARMM. The ARMM shall continue to function until Bangsamoro Basic Law is passed and ratified. The law shall provide a transitory period whereby a Bangsamoro Transition Authority shall bridge the period between the plebiscite and the 2016 election. The Transition Authority shall prepare for the transformation of the region into the Bangsamoro.

IS THE BANGSAMORO AN AMENDED ARMM?

• Ø  No, it is not an amended ARMM, but a replacement of it.

HOW WILL THE BANGSAMORO GOVERNMENT LOOK LIKE?

• Ø  The Bangsamoro shall have a MINISTERIAL FORM. Voters will vote for political parties, and the parties who win seats in the legislative body shall elect the head of the Bangsamoro.

WHAT DOES A MINISTERIAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT MEAN?

• Ø  In a ministerial form of government, the people will elect their representatives to the assembly. This assembly will then elect its leader who will be called the CHIEF MINISTER.

WHAT IS THE GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE OF THE BANGSAMORO?

• Ø  The geographical scope of the Bangsamoro shall be determined through the plebiscite that will be held after the Congress passes the Bangsamoro Basic Law. The people will decide whether they will join the Bangsamoro or not.

• The plebiscite will be held in the envisioned core territory of the Bangsamoro, namely the current ARMM provinces and MARAWI CITY; the cities of COTABATO and ISABELA; the six (6) municipalities in Lanao del Norte that voted for inclusion in the ARMM in the 2001 plebiscite (Baloi, Munai, Pantar, Nunungan, Tagaloan & Tangkal); and the barangays in the six (6) municipalities of North Cotabato province that likewise voted for inclusion in 2001 (Kabacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigkawayan, Pikit and Midsayap). Other contiguous areas where there is a resolution for inclusion from the local government unit or a petition of atleast 10 percent of the qualified voters may also join after the requisite plebiscite.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF PEOPLE REJECT THE BANGSAMORO ENTITY IN THE PLEBISCITE?

• Ø  If it is not agreed upon by the people themselves to establish the Bangsamoro entity, then there will be no mandate. It will mean that there will be no Bangsamoro and ARMM stays.

=FOR ME, ITS JUST A MATTER OF FAITH AND TRUST=