Sulu Province News December 2011

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‘Sulu sultan’ case: City Police chief’s bid for stay of execution dismissed

By theborneopost.com


KOTA KINABALU: The City Police chief failed in his bid in applying for a stay of execution of an order on the Islamic Welfare and Sermon Organisation of Malaysia, Sabah Chapter chairman Datu Mohd Akjan Datu Ali Muhammad to have all his belongings back in relation to his alleged installation as ‘Sultan of Sulu’ which were seized by police personnel eight months ago. Magistrate Noor Hafizah Mohd Salim yesterday dismissed the application after hearing oral submissions from the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) for the respondent (OCPD) and counsel P J Perira, who acted for the applicant, Datu Mohd Akjan. Datu Mohd Akjan was not present in the court. In her decision, Noor Hafizah held that there were no special circumstances shown by the DPP for her to allow a stay of execution in this case. “Normally a stay of execution only granted at the stage of an appeal, therefore the application is dismissed,” the magistrate ruled. Earlier, the DPP submitted that the OCPD was applying for a stay of execution of an order by the Magistrate’s Court here on Dec 7 for the release of all the exhibits (Datu Mohd Akjan’s belongings) pending a criminal revision at the High Court. The DPP said that they applied for a stay of execution in order to retain control of all the exhibits. In urging the court to exercise its inherent power, the DPP further submitted that if a stay of execution was not granted it would be frivolous to file a criminal revision at the High Court if the exhibits have been released to the applicant. In his reply, Perira submitted that he had filed a criminal application to have 32 items which were seized from his client’s residence in Likas to be returned to Datu Mohd Akjan since Nov 17 this year. He further said that on Nov 16, he had served a copy of the notice of application together with an affidavit in support to the OCPD and another same copy to the DPP’s office. However, the respondent had failed to file a reply to his affidavit in support up to yesterday. Perira contended that under Section 311 of the Criminal Procedure Code which states that a stay of execution whereby if the court had made an order, the respondent should file an appeal within 14 days but he failed to do so. He pointed out that the court had given an order for the return of all the exhibits in which the due date to return all Datu Mohd Akjan’s belongings was on Nov 24. “So the court has no power to allow a stay of execution pending a criminal revision as a period to file an appeal had expired,” he submitted. He said that once the magistrate had given an order, the enforcement authority must abide by the order. Meanwhile, Perira also informed the court that they would file a contempt of court and committal proceedings against the OCPD today. On Dec 7, magistrate Nuruhuda Mohd Yusof granted Datu Mohd Akjan’s application to get all this belongings back among others, the items seized were his coronation suit, several documents and cellphones. Then on May 22, Datu Mohd Akjan was released without condition from Karamunsing police station after the prosecuting officer of this case did not apply for an extension of his client’s seven days’ remand. The remand was made to order the police to investigate Datu Mohd Akjan’s case under Section 130C of the Penal Code for allegedly committing terrorism acts, an offence which carries a jail term of between seven and 30 years and also liable to a fine, upon conviction. It was widely reported that Datu Mohd Akjan was ceremonially installed as the 33rd ‘Sultan of Sulu’ on Feb 2, when he took the oath of allegiance in a private ceremony at his Kg Likas residence here. It was said that the ceremony was witnessed by 60 people including senior officials of the Sulu Sultanate from Sulu Province in southern Philippines. Following the installation, Datu Mohd Akjan holds the title of Paduka Maulana Al-Sultan Sharif Ali Muhammad Pulalun or Sultan Hashim Shariful-II. The proclamation by Datu Mohd Akjan as the sultan had provoked disapproval from certain parties who had called for an immediate investigation to be carried out. The majority of Sabahans were worried that Datu Mohd Akjan’s action to declare himself on Malaysian soil as ‘sultan of Sulu’ would have serious security implications to the state and country. Some viewed Datu Mohd Akjan’s self-styled coronation in Sabah as a challenge to the state and an insult to the King and the Head of State. Others were concerned that the event may be misinterpreted by foreigners from the Philippines to further encourage them to enter Sabah illegally.

Govt poised to carry out P30-M projects for Sulu

By AL JACINTO


ZAMBOANGA CITY: Some P30 million worth of government projects have been lined up for implementation in Sulu province in the Muslim autonomous region.

Governor Sakur Tan said the projects are part of the “Misyon ng Kapayapaan” under the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process headed by Secretary Teresita Deles to jumpstart peace and development and improve living conditions in the province.

Projects include covered court, farm-to-market roads, public markets, trading centers, libraries, school buildings, multi-purpose halls, post-harvest facilities, among others.

OPAPP Director Susana Marcaida and Army Brigadier General Gerardo Layug recently met with Tan in Sulu to hand-over the projects which will also benefit former Muslim rebels who are integrated into the community and poor villages.

“The Moro National Liberation Front areas will be developed and even the provincial government is ready to assist in providing opportunities and better the lives of our MNLF brothers,” Tan said.

Marcaida said OPAPP and the Sulu provincial government have signed a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the projects. The program of works for each municipality will be done by their respective municipal engineers.

Tan earlier praised President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s peace and development efforts, saying the government has pledged more projects that will benefit poor Muslim communities in the province.

Tan also thanked the President for his personal intervention in granting additional 500 visas to Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia after the governor sought Aquino’s help to assist those who will travel to Mecca for the annual pilgrimage.

Tan, a devout Muslim, said Aquino wrote a letter to the Saudi King and appealed for additional visas for Filipino pilgrims so they can travel for the Hajj.

“We thanked President Aquino for all these help and support that he is giving us, not only Sulu, but other provinces in the Muslim autonomous region,” he told reporters.

He said Aquino’s support to the development of Sulu is unprecedented. “We are now recipients of many government projects. I have been elected many times as governor, but we have never received such huge support from the national government and the President is there for just over a year and this is like a dream. We are so grateful to all the projects allocated for Sulu,” Tan said.

He said the projects allocated to Sulu include socialized housing, irrigation, agriculture and fisheries, and infrastructure among others. “With all these development projects, we could ask for more, but say thank you Mr. President,” Tan said.

Sulu to implement more projects

By mindanaoexaminer.com


SULU (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 25, 2011) – Some P30 million worth of government projects have been lined up for implementation in the southern Filipino province of Sulu in the Muslim autonomous region. Governor Sakur Tan said the projects are part of the “Misyon ng Kapayapaan” under the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process headed by Secretary Teresita Deles to jumpstart peace and development and improve living conditions in the province. Among the projects covered court, farm-to-market roads, public markets, trading centers, libraries, school buildings, multi-purpose halls, post-harvest facilities, among others. OPAPP Director Susana Marcaida and Army Brigadier General Gerardo Layug recently met with Tan and his mayors in Sulu to hand-over the projects which will also benefit former Muslim rebels who are integrated into the community and poor villages. “The Moro National Liberation Front areas will be developed and even the provincial government is ready to assist in providing opportunities and better the lives of our MNLF brothers,” Tan said. Marcaida said OPAPP and the Sulu provincial government have signed a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the projects. The program of works for each municipality will be done by their respective municipal engineers. Those who attended the meeting were Mayor Hussin Amin, of Jolo; Mayor Kabir Hayudini, of Patikul; Mayor Sitti Raya Tulawie, of Talipao; Mayor Samier Tan, of Maimbung; Mayor Munib Estino, of Panglima Estino; Mayor Allayon Arbison, of Luuk; Mayor Alrazhmie Halun, of Kalinggalan Caluang; Mayor Gafur Abdurajak, of Panamao. And also Mayor Arthur Muksan, of Siasi; Mayor Hatta Berto, of Pandami; Mayor Al-Zhudurie Asmadun, of Lugus; Mayor Amilhamja Taib, of Pangutaran; Mayor Dornie Daud, of Tapul; Mayor Madzhar Loong, of Parang; Mayor Wahid Sahidulla, of Banguingui; Mayor Nurmina Burahan, of Pata; and Mayor Ahmad Omar, of Omar. (Mindanao Examiner)

Aquino’s peace and development projects in Sulu praised

By Ely Dumaboc and Joseph Zosobrado


ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Dec. 21, 2011) – Sulu Governor Sakur Tan praised President Benigno Aquino’s peace and development efforts, saying the government has pledged more projects that will benefit poor Muslim communities in the province.

Tan also thanked the President for his personal intervention in granting additional 500 visas to Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia after the governor sought Aquino’s help to assist those who will travel to Mecca for the annual pilgrimage.

Tan, a devout Muslim, said Aquino wrote a letter to the Saudi King and appealed for additional visas for Filipino pilgrims so they can travel for the Hajj.

“We thanked President Aquino for all these help and support that he is giving us, not only Sulu, but other provinces in the Muslim autonomous region,” he told reporters.

He said Aquino’s support to the development of Sulu is unprecedented. “We are now recipients of many government projects. I have been elected many times as governor, but we have never received such huge support from the national government and the President is there for just over a year and this is like a dream. We are so grateful to all the projects allocated for Sulu,” Tan said.

He said the projects allocated to Sulu include socialized housing, irrigation, agriculture and fisheries, and infrastructure among others. “With all these development projects, we could ask for more, but say thank you Mr. President,” Tan said.

Tan was in Zamboanga with governors Sadikul Sahali, of Tawi-Tawi; and Jum Akbar, of Basilan, for a meeting with officials of the National Irrigation Administration about projects for their respective provinces.

PTA Unleashes Students' Potential In Sulu Archipelago School

By usaid.gov


HADJI PANGLIMA TAHIL, SULU—"Reading takes you anywhere" is painted in large letters on the wall of a tiny school in this municipality, which, to most eyes, would appear to be smack in the middle of nowhere.

The municipality of Hadji Panglima Tahil is composed of a group of small islands surrounded by the waters of the Sulu Sea, a long boat ride from the main islands of Sulu Province. Economically, it is isolated as well, and was once identified as the poorest municipality in the Philippines.

But on this sunny morning, the children of the Subah Elementary School are immersed in a different world—the wider world of scientific understanding and other types of knowledge found in books.

The teacher asks the students what an ecosystem is, and small, eager hands shoot up. She calls on Sharisma Ajing, who stands up and answers crisply and precisely.

"Sharisma is a shy child", said Linda Tacata, the school principal. "I hardly remember her reciting in class. It was only in Grade 6 that she started to speak up," Tacata recalls.

It was then that the school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) was able to provide the school with new books and reference materials, sewing machines for home economics classes, a personal computer with a printer, and other multimedia aids. The new resources seemed to energize Sharisma.

The PTA purchased the learning resources with the help of an education matching grant provided by USAID's Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program. Through its Matching Grant Project, the GEM Program matches, peso-for-peso, the funds raised by PTAs of schools located in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao to improve education in their schools. As of mid-2009, USAID-GEM had awarded more than 800 education matching grants, worth more than $800,000, to PTAs. The school's PTAs raised the same amount through community fund-raising activities and local business support.

Previously, the students shared a small number of textbooks. Now they can borrow many new books from the small library established by the PTA, and can read outside of class hours.

The school's PTA also provides fuel for the electric generator which powers the computer on which the teachers run educational programs, which have helped motivate Sharisma and the other students to learn.

The determination shown by this and other PTAs in remote corners of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago in raising funds and working with USAID to improve education is a clear manifestation of the importance parents in Hadji Panglima Tahil put on the education of their children.

"We are surrounded by water, but with the help of these learning aids our students can get to know about the bigger world."

Sulu boy scouts welcome Mannix

By Nonong Santiago


At least 700 Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) Sulu council members welcomed BSP Regional Chair Mannix Dalipe during the recently concluded Provincial Jamboree held in Jolo, Sulu.

Dalipe said the three day jamboree was organized by MG Sulu BSP Council led by Mayor Hussin Amin and attended by the BSP from all the Sulu municipalities.

In his message, the young and dynamic BSP regional chair committed to visit all the provinces in Western Mindanao to promote peace through the scouting movement.

“We can promote peace in Mindanao through the boy scouts because this is one movement where Muslims and Christians alike join together as brothers thereby showing to the rest of the country and the world that we are united through scouting,” Dalipe stressed.

Dalipe said the boy scouts also enjoyed the different outdoor activities like singing around the bon fires, knot tying, games, and other activities to sharpen their skills as well as topics of nationalism and unity.

He said the activity was also supported by the MBLT 9 led by Col. Macaambac.

Dalipe also commended the BSP Sulu council under Mayor Amin for being one of the top performers of the BSP council in Western Mindanao.

Mariculture park in Sulu launched

By NONOY E. LACSON


SIASI, Sulu – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in coordination with the local gov-ernment here will launch next week the first mariculture farm in Sulu as part of the national government commitment to help the people in remote areas alleviate their poor living condition.

BFAR Mariculture Specialist Perfector I Orbita said an initial amount of P2.5-million have been infused for the establishment of the farm at Tara island in this town covering an estimated sea area of 300 hectares.

Of the total area, 50 hectares will be used for seaweed nursery, 150 hectares for sea ranching, 70 hectares for pearl oyster culture and 30 hectares for fish cage, the BFAR mariculture specialist said.

Orbita said the farm consists of 32 fish cages for high valued fish and 50 concrete blocks for mooring sites.

The procurement of some 10,000 fingerlings of high valued fish and its feed requirements will be supplied by the local traders and fisher folk.

The LGU here also constructed a 10 square-meter catwalk and an 80-square meter platform for the launching of the mariculture park.

After the launching ceremony catwalk will be converted into five fish cages and the platform to a multi-purpose floating house.

Orbita said BFAR is developing mariculture parks nationwide to promote the propagation of high-value fish species like groupers, red snappers and others, particularly sea cucumber, sea urchin and seaweeds.

This will enhance the competitive advantage of the country’s fishery sector globally as well as increase the overall sustainability and productivity of fish farming communities, he said.

The establishment of a mariculture park is in partnership with the local government units which identify the area. The LGU said the mariculture park project was approved in a resolution by the local legislative body.

A local Executive Management Council was set up composed of representatives from the LGUs, BFAR, and members of the fishing community which host the park.

A mariculture park is an area in the sea which has a communal storm-resistant mooring system and boundary markers. It is subdivided into individual “farm plots” for fish cage operation, seaweed farming and other marine aquaculture activities.

8 bombs found in mosque in Sulu village

By Jewel Reyes, ABS-CBN News Zamboanga


ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – At least 8 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered by authorities in a mosque in Barangay Panglahayan, Patikul, Sulu on two separate occasions, the military said.

Deputy for operations of the Marine Forces South Colonel Jojo Cenabre said the IEDs, which were found on Tuesday and Wednesday, were possibly intended to blow off the mosque.

However, this has not been confirmed by the Sulu provincial police.

Cenabre said the IEDs were composed of mortars and bottles filled with nails.

Meanwhile, the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations on a separate report said that a mortar was also recovered in a creek Thursday afternoon.

The recovered mortar was immediately turned over to authorities for safekeeping.

Taking sides in Sulu and Basilan

By Menardo Wenceslao


Peace and development are not the sole responsibility of the government. Government alone cannot achieve these without the peoples’ active participation. This is an unarguable fact and many a community realized this early while others too late.

The island provinces of Sulu and Basilan including the conflict areas of Central Mindanao have not realized this yet as such suffer the consequence of the indifference of some of quarters who refuse to cooperate with the government or just suffer in silence.

Sulu and Basilan were once islands of peace and stability. Many traders and visitors ventured there. Inter-island vessels docked in their ports bringing goods to and from Manila and elsewhere. Now and then cruise ships dropped anchor in their shores for no where else in the world can you find the wealth of the ocean floors, crystal clean waters and richness of culture than in Sulu and Basilan and of course Zamboanga City.

Secessionist adventurers who peddle lofty and utopian dreams damaged the serenity of these island paradise. Many left the area and settled elsewhere. Others opted to stay for they have so much at stake and cannot leave. But most were silenced by fear and threats, intimidations which until today grip people to the point of paralysis and nonchalance.

Sulu, Basilan and Central Mindanao have become a haven of terrorist and criminals of various breeds because people refuse to be involved in the government’s campaign to weed out these bands that hide in the pretext of extremist Islam. But there is actually nothing Islamic in their barbarism for in the end, as they sow terror and behead kidnap-for-ransom victims not a thing in their hideous deeds are of Islam.

Ironically the terrorists and the dreadful criminals among them are so few compared to the overwhelming majority who had been yearning for peace in silence. In their discontent moreover grows a flicker of hope as some of the people realized the futility of their acquiescence.

The successful operations against the terrorists are attributed to the cooperation of the civilian community. This success is a demonstration of how the people cooperating with the government peace keeping force can promptly eliminate the unwanted elements in the community.

If this bravery and cooperation are duplicated in other places in Sulu, Basilan and Central Mindanao, we are certain that the misery of our brother Muslims in these areas will finally come to an end. After all, for now, they must have known which side is truly out to protect them.

Searcher commences acquisition of Pala Sulu non-exclusive 2D seismic survey

By scandoil.com


Searcher Seismic Pty Ltd commences acquisition of the Pala Sulu Non-Exclusive 2D Seismic Survey in the Philippines (project partner Seabird Exploration) in cooperation with the Philippines Department of Energy. This survey comprises 7,086km and covers the Palawan, Mindoro-Cuyo, Sulu Sea and Sandakan basins.

The Pala-Sulu seismic survey will for the first time provide a consistent link between the basins to create a uniform stratigraphic framework. The survey has been designed to better define the tectonic framework of the Philippines’ most important petroleum basins and to improve the imaging of the lower sedimentary sections and basement.

The survey commenced in November 2011, and utilises state of the art acquisition and processing to ensure the resulting dataset is of the highest quality. A full suite of deliverables will be produced during the processing to allow for further studies such as basin modelling, AVO and inversion.

Suspected Abu Sayyaf members blow up Sulu bridge

By Abigail Kwok, InterAksyon.com


Alleged members of the Abu Sayyaf Group blew up a concrete bridge in Patikul, Sulu, in the early hours of Saturday, closing it to traffic, police said.

A report from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police said the explosion hit a bridge in Sitio Tangan-Tangan, Bgy. Taung at around 1:45 a.m.

No casualties were reported, but the bridge sustained major damage and has been rendered impassable to any type of vehicle.

Sulu education officials join policy direction meeting

By Nonong Santiago


At least 154 education officials from the second district of Sulu yesterday participated in the forum dubbed, “Consultative Management Meeting and Policy Direction” held at the Crystal Ballroom of the Astoria Hotel, this city.

Sulu District 2 Congresswoman Lady Ann Sahidulla disclosed the participants include school district supervisors, principals, high school district and pre-school coordinators and district planning officers of the second school division of Sulu.

The congresswoman said based on the latest educational monitoring, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has the highest illiteracy rate in the country.

“The educational output of Sulu under her district is also very low because many of the schools are located in the island municipalities making it difficult for the students to attend schools and teachers are afraid to teach because of threats by terrorists like the Abu Sayyaf,” Sahidulla said.

Sahidulla said she fully supports the division of the school districts in to two. It was in 2005 when officials of ARMM approved the Muslim Mindanao Act No. 174 which orders the division of the school districts into two divisions.

“This will provide additional and more employment to teachers. Noong isang division pa lamang 15 teachers lang ang kailangan but when we divided the school division into two they added another 15 sets of teachers, so mas maganda ang ganitong setting,” Sahidulla pointed out.

Meanwhile, Sulu 2 School Division Superintendent Delfin Unga commended Sahidulla for strongly supporting the educational concerns of her district.

Unga said the Congresswoman has appropriated from her Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) P5 million for the repair and rehabilitation of many dilapidated schools under her district.

“She also instructed me to assess and prioritize as to the seriousness, need and gravity of the school that need the immediate repair,” Unga said.

He said the Sulu District 2 is inn dire need for additional new schools, classrooms and teachers to improve the education of the district. “I would like to commend the congresswoman for her total commitment and involvement to perk up and develop the educational system of our school division,” Unga emphasized.

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