Friday, May 28, 2021

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/

Ex-lawmaker positive for coronavirus

Posted: 28 May 2021 02:56 AM PDT

FORMER Second District representative Celso Lobregat has confirmed that he tested positive for Sars-CoV-2, which causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Lobregat made the announcement both on radio and on his Facebook page in reaction to the "many have reached out to verify the news."

Lobregat, an incumbent Philippine Red Cross (PRC) governor, said he started feeling bodyache, headache, and some pain on the neck in the afternoon of Monday, May 24.

On Tuesday morning, May 25, Lobregat said he was feverish with "some ache of my back and other parts mentioned previously."

Lobregat said he underwent Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test at PRC in the afternoon of May 25.

"At 6:57 a.m. Wednesday, I received the test results and it's positive," he said.

The former lawmaker, who was admitted on May 25 at a local private hospital, is optimistic that he will defeat Covid-19.

"With the grace of God, I am feeling great and I am optimistic that I will soon defeat the virus. Thank you so much for all your prayers, love, and support," he said.

"Don't worry, I am just here. Don't worry, I am still here," he said, alluding both to his supporters and political foes. (SunStar Zamboanga)

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Barmm addresses water scarcity in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu

Posted: 28 May 2021 02:55 AM PDT

THE Ministry of the Interior and Local Government in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MILG-Barmm) has allotted more than P143 million to install 10 units of desalination machines in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi that will convert sea water into fresh potable water.

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, MILF minister, said Friday, May 28, that the project is to address the scarcity of potable water in the two provinces that has been going on for generations.

Sinarimbo signed a contract agreement on Thursday, May 27, with Water Equipment Technologies (WET) Industries Inc. for the provision, installation, and delivery of five desalination machines for Tawi-Tawi, and another five for Sulu, specifically in the island municipalities of Pangutaran, Pata, Hadji Panglima Tahil, and Pandami.

The funding to purchase the desalination machines will come from the 2020 contingency fund of the Office of the Chief Minister, and implemented by MILG under its Project Management Development Division.

Sinarimbo said that during his trip to the island provinces, he observed the challenges being faced by the residents -- the need to travel by boat from one island to another for four to five hours just to have access to safe potable water.

Sinarimbo said digging for wells was not an option, as it would not yield potable water since they are surrounded by the sea, and drinking water with high salt content poses serious health problems.

"We've been battling this problem for probably as old as time, and I am perplexed by the fact that no serious attempt has been made to resolve this issue," he said.

"During that trip, I made a promise to some of the officials there that we will try to resolve the challenge that has been there for generations, and this government will resolve that in earnest," he added.

He said the issue on potable water in Sulu was also raised during the Mushawara consultation with Civil Society Organizations held in January and Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim vowed that a desalination project would be implemented.

Donna Paiso, WET Industries Inc. representative, said that despite the materials coming from abroad, she assured that they will do their best to deliver the machines on time.

Founded in 1975, WET is a water treatment expert based in Dallas, Texas.

Sinarimbo said the project is the "first bold step" of the regional government in addressing the lack of potable water in the island provinces.

He said desalination facilities will be also deployed to Basilan province. (SunStar Zamboanga)

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Law enforcement operations net 2 wanted persons

Posted: 28 May 2021 02:54 AM PDT

LAWMEN have arrested two wanted persons in separate law enforcement operations in the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte, the police reported Friday, May 28.

Police Major Shellamie Chang, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the arrested wanted persons as Maricon Rico, 33; and, Fernan Ingad, 41.

Chang said Rico was arrested around 6 p.m. Thursday, Mays 27, in Buayan village, Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Chang said Rico has a standing warrant of arrest for carnapping dated March 27, 2018 with P180,000 recommended bail issued by the court of Quezon City.

Chang said Rico is temporarily under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Zamboanga Sibugay for documentation and proper disposition.

Ingad, on the other hand, was arrested in similar operation around 4 p.m. Thursday, May 27, in Purok 3 in Labiray village, Sergio Osmeña, Zamboanga del Norte.

Chang said Ingad has an existing warrant of arrest for two counts of rape with no recommended bail dated January 8, 2021 and issued by the court of Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte.

She said Ingad was placed under the temporary custody of the Sergio Osmeña Municipal Police Station for proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)

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5 Dawlah Islamiya supporters yield in Lanao

Posted: 28 May 2021 02:54 AM PDT

FIVE supporters of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group (DI-MG) surrendered to government authorities amid the continuous military operation against them in Lanao del Sur, officials said Friday, May 28.

Lieutenant Colonel Fernando Payapaya, 51st Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, said they surrendered around 8 a.m. Thursday, May 27, at his headquarters in Dilausan village, Madalum, Lanao del Sur.

Payapaya withheld the identities of the surrenderers for security reasons, but said they are from the village of Salungabanding, Madalum.

The surrenderers yielded one M-14 rifle, two Garand rifles, and two M-16 Armalite rifles.

Payapaya said the surrender of the five DI-MG supporters can be attributed to the relentless and sustained Focused Military Operations (FMO) against them and the strengthened partnership of his command with the local leaders headed by Yahya Macabada, Salungabanding village, and Madalum Mayor Omeraidah Mindalano.

He said the five DI-MG surrenderers revealed that they were recruited using the holy teachings of Islam but subsequently, they were slowly indoctrinated of the Jihadist and the Dawlah Islamiya beliefs.

He said they served as couriers of the DI-MG to buy food supplies and serve as look-outs to monitor the movement of military and police in the area.

He said they are also considered the DI-MG's reserve force and will be utilized as additional fighters whenever there will be an attack or harassments.

"We do not rejoice in killing fellow Filipinos even he is a member of DI-MG. So I urge other members of the DI-MG to lay down your arms and return to our main stream society, I know you are already tired and hungry. Our door is open. But for those who will continue to wage terrorism in the province of Lanao del Sur, we will not hesitate to use our full force to destroy you," Payapaya said.

Brigadier General Jose Maria Cuerpo II, 103rd Infantry Brigade commander, expressed his gratitude to the local leaders who are silent actors beyond the activity.

Cuerpo also lauded the effort of 51IB in this significant achievement.

"We are genuinely committed to bring about lasting peace in Lanao del Sur. We will sustain the momentum, we will continue the pressure against these terrorist group and we will not stop until we see our Maranao brothers and sisters live in a peace and developed environment," Cuerpo said. (SunStar Zamboanga)

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Soldiers, cops hold basic teaching activity

Posted: 27 May 2021 08:55 AM PDT

TEN elementary school students joined the basic teaching initiated by the Community Support Program (CSP) of the military and police in a remote village of Zamboanga del Norte.

The basic teaching was initiated by the CSP team of the Army's 97th Infantry Battalion (IB) and Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Mobile Force Company. It was held Sunday, May 23, in Bagumbayan village, Sergio Osmeña town.

Lieutenant Colonel Manaros Boransing, 97IB commander, said the activity aims to assist students in their respective lessons.

Boransing noted that the health pandemic has restricted face-to-face classes for the young students and affected their education as not all parents can teach and guide their children through the lessons as they have not gone through basic education.

Boransing said despite challenges, young students are eager to learn and the army and police are providing whatever help they can give and share.

"The opportunities for tutors going to the students are simply not there as these young students live in isolated areas," he said. (SunStar Zamboanga)

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Tabuan Lasa backs campaign to lessen loose firearms

Posted: 27 May 2021 08:55 AM PDT

ANOTHER municipality in Basilan has pledged to support the implementation of the small arms and light weapons (SALW) program in that province.

The SALW program seeks to lessen, if not eradicate, the number of small arms and light weapons of individuals and groups to prevent from creating havoc in the communities.

Lieutenant General Corleto Vinluan, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom), said Wednesday, May 26, 2021, that the officials of Tabuan Lasa municipality headed by Mayor Brenda Junaid signed an agreement to support the implementation of the SALW program in that town.

The other signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in a ceremony Tuesday, May 25, in Lanawan village, Tabuan Lasa were: Brigadier General Domingo Gobway, Joint Task Force (JTF)-Basilan commander; Colonel Rodrigo Maramo, Basilan police director; Lieutenant Colonel Alex Ampati, 4th Special Force Battalion commander; and, Manny Muarip, provincial administrator.

Vinluan said the MOU provides for the reduction and management of small arms and light weapons of individuals and groups doing hostile activities in the communities.

Gobway said this is a good development in the implementation of the program in the province of Basilan.

"We hope that the other municipalities will also signify their support to the program," Gobway said.

The officials of the municipality of Hadji Mohammad Ajul along with military and police officials have signed on May 21 similar MOU.

Meanwhile, the activity Tuesday in Tabuan Lasa was highlighted by the presentation of seven assorted loose firearms to Gobway by First Lieutenant Alvin Balangcod, 14th Special Forces Company commander.

Balangcod said the loose firearms were voluntarily surrendered by civilians from the different villages of Tabuan Lasa.

Tabuan Lasa comprises four islands with 12 villages with a population of 24,188 as of the 2015 census.

"To end terrorism, we must address its root causes which include the proliferation of loose firearms. I am happy that JTF Basilan is achieving a greater height in the campaign against loose firearms through the SALW program in their area of operation," Vinluan said. (SunStar Zamboanga)

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4 fall in anti-drug stings

Posted: 27 May 2021 08:50 AM PDT

FOUR persons, including a mechanic and a driver, were arrested in separate anti-drug operations in Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Sibugay province, the police reported Thursday, May 27, 2021.

Police Major Shellamie Chang, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the arrested suspects as the following: Maldison Hasan, 50; Joseph Toribio, 44; Alberto Apog, Jr., 29; Angelo Cañete, 19.

Chang said Hasan, a mechanic, was arrested in possession of some P5,500 worth of suspected shabu and P200 marked money in a buy-bust operation around 11:55 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, in Calarian village, Zamboanga City.

She said Toribio, a driver, yielded some P6,000 worth of suspected shabu and P500 marked money when arrested in an anti-drug operation around 1 a.m. Thursday, May 27, in Culianan village, Zamboanga City.

Recovered from Apog and Cañete were some P6,600 worth of suspected shabu and P500 marked money when they were arrested in a buy-bust operation around 3:50 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, in Purok 2, Ligaya village, Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay.

She said formal charges were filed against the arrested suspects. (SunStar Zamboanga)

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