Manila, Philippines-(August 5, 2020) Amidst the ongoing Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) being imposed over the Greater Metro Manila Area (Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite) because of the COVID-19 Pandemic coinciding with the End of the Annual Hajj pilgrimage commenced through the celebration of the Eid’l Adha;.
Seven cases including Plunder has been filed at the Office of the ombudsman against NCMF Secretary Saidamen B. Pangarungan backed by disgusted employees of the commission along with support from several Groups of Religious and Tribal Muslim Leaders in Mindanao and Luzon, including Maranaw (the tribe where he belong).
Atty. Pangarungan’s term of office as NCMF Secretary should have expired this July 2020 but even then, he still is one of the commission’s commissioners and is the Chief Executive Officer the reason why concerned employees of the commission and Leaders in the Region are urging President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for an immediate replacement as Secretary in regard to the corruption issues.
Aside from violation of R.A. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and R.A. 6713 (Violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees among others, personally filed by NCMF Commissioner Abubakar M. Mangelen Ph.D
Last March of this year, before the COVID-19 Pandemic, Muslim Religious Leaders signed a Manifesto of Support for Mr. Jadjurie Arasa, headed by the late Dr. Abdurahman U. Amin. He was the former Administrator of the Blue Mosque in Maharlika Village Taguig which Atty. Pangarungan abruptly replaced without the consent of Elders and Leaders.///Abdul Malik Bin Ismail, abdulmalikbinismail685@gmail.com 09333816694
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DAB holds FGD on moral governance to IP leaders in BARMM.
Leaders of the indigenous people in the Bangsamoro region attended a focus group discussion (FGD) on moral governance on Wednesday, August 5.
The FGD, implemented by the Development Academy of the Bangsamoro (DAB) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), aims to gather the leaders’ views and understanding on moral governance and incorporate them with the BARMM perspective.
Dr. Shamsuddin Taya, DAB’s research department head, said inclusivity is a very important principle in Bangsamoro Government’s call for moral governance, especially that the Bangsamoro Organic Law contains provisions that the indigenous people should be included in the development plan of the BARMM.
Also present during Wednesday’s activity were DAB President Dr. Norodin Salam and Engr. Mohajirin Ali, Director General of the Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA). (Bureau of Public Information)
Bangsamoro Gov’t completes sending home 405 BaSulTa bound LSIs
Cotabato City (August 3, 2020) – Ninety-six (96) stranded residents bound for the island provinces of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi have boarded the MV Lady Mary Joy-3 today at the Polloc Port in Parang, Maguindanao.
This means that the Bangsamoro Government has successfully sent home all 405 Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) to their respective provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
Among of the 96 individuals, 45 tested negative for Covid-19, while the remaining 51 who tested positive have already recovered. All of them have completed the 14-days quarantine in the isolation facilities in BARMM.
It can be recalled that the 405 LSIs from Manila were originally bound for the BaSulTa island provinces but were rerouted to Cagayan de Oro City on July 7.
The Bangsamoro Government hired 17 buses to take them to Zamboanga City, which should have been the nearest port of entry to the island provinces. However, due to circumstances beyond the control of the Bangsamoro Government, the buses had to be rerouted to Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.
Interior and Local Government Minister Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, during today’s sending off ceremony, assured the LSIs of their safe return to their respective provinces.
“Part of our preparation for your return is our time to time coordination with the local government units (LGUs),” Sinarimbo said.
“When you arrive in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, you will be welcomed by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer (PDRRMO) and Local Government officials of each provinces,” he added.
Sinarimbo also emphasized that the Bangsamoro Government has provided the basic needs of the LSIs that are essential upon arriving in their respective provinces.
“Pinadalhan po namin kayo ng iba pang gamit para pagdating niyo sa inyong mga probinsiya ay kaya niyong mamuhay ng ilang weeks habang nag-aadjust, at tuluyang mapadali ang pag-integrade niyo sa inyong mga komunidad.” Sinarimbo said.
Each LSI received P5,000.00 cash assistance, 25 kilograms of rice, groceries, medicines, and hygiene kits from the BARMM’s Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) and Rapid Emergency Action on Disaster Incidence (READI).
One of the LSIs was emotional as he recalled his experience throughout his stay in the isolation facilities.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa BARMM, kasi hindi nila kami pinabayaan sa isolation center. Araw-araw kaming binigyan ng makakain, ng tulugan, at iba pa,” he said.
[We are thankful to BARMM for taking care of our needs while staying in the isolation facilities. They provided us with daily meals, sleeping mats, and others.]
“Sa wakas makakauwi na din kami sa mga bahay namin, matagal naming hinintay ang araw na to. Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng tumulong sa amin,” he added.
[We can finally go home, we have been waiting for this day. Thank you so much to everyone who helped us.]
The succesful transfer of the LSIs was also made possible thru the support of the BARMM’s Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Public Works (MPW), United Nation- International Organization for Migration (UN-IOM), Local Government Units of Sultan Kudarat and Parang, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and other partner agencies. (Bureau of Public Information)