Mayor Lantud Opposes Martial Law

By: Armand Apolinario

Pantao-Ragat, Lanao del Norte – In a Press Conference held last December 10, 2009, in this town Mayor Eleanor D. Lantud and Vice Mayor Lacson Lantud are opposing the calling up of 2^nd District Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo that the Martial Law in Maguindanao province be expanded in this town, recently.

Mayor Eleanor Lantud said that “Why we are on the target of Congressman Dimaporo that this act is politically motivated because we are only opposing to the administration of Dimaporo in this province as we believed not in right direction. Rather, the Martial Law must be expanded to the provincial Capitol in Tubod, this province not here in our town.”

Mayor Eleanor Lantud urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to please not listen to Congressman Dimaporo allegations that there have plenty of Private Army here, but lately in ABS-CBN it had been shown-aired that the Dimaporo is in the list of having Private Army in the Lanao province.

On the issue of the two (2) teachers who are complaining to the provincial government. Vice Mayor Lacson Lantud clarified on this issue and he explained that the case of the 2 teachers is already filed in court regarding Illegal Possession of Fire Arm and Illegal Drug Pushing as confirmed by the Military on their previous court records. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) must not interfere and let roll the wheel of justice the law of justice and the court must prevails, not by bringing the issue to Malacañang and this office has nothing to do on this case. Why the SP by-passed the DepEd Superintendent of Lanao del Norte? It seems that the SP doesn’t know how to solve this problem, Vice Mayor Lacson Lantud said.

“We and the people of this province will oppose that Martial Law be implemented here because it is baseless, there were no elements of Rebellion and public dis-order here. This town is very peaceful as the Media witnessed it now and that they are here doing Press Conference.”, Vice Mayor Lacson Lantud added.

The Media asked Mayor Eleanor Lantud, what is your differences with the Dimaporo? She replied that “We have already reconciled our differences this year, they have conducted meeting with Congressman Abdullah Dimaporo in the Macapagal Training Center (MTC). But I was surprised that it affairs in the ABS-CBN and Media that he (Dimaporo) asked PGMA to expand the Martial Law in this town. Mayor Eleanor Lantud categorically denied that they have about 200 Armed group as alleged, that’s all lies and baseless.”

On the issue that Pantao-Ragat town be under the Comelec control during this coming 2010 elections! Vice Mayor Lacson Lantud answered and he said that “In Pantao-Ragat the election here is Transparent, Peaceful and No Cheating. While in Sultan Naga Dimaporo (SND) be put under Comelec control this coming 2010 election because during his teenage days that he witnessed that only one (1) person will write and fill-up hundred of Ballots in the previous elections. The people in SND were never had voted their candidates.”

Vice Mayor Lacson Lantud clarified and said that “They have CVOs here that are being handled by the Military-AFP-Cadre, and there are also troops of military personnel here that they are defending the Pantao-Ragat town from any lawless elements, he never used them as his escorts outside this town.”

Mayor Eleanor Lantud added that “They have formally talked with Governor Khalid Q. Dimaporo and she explained that while his parents were elected as Governors in this province they did not work or give any budget with their Provincial Road from Balo-i town to Pantao-Ragat town and their Provincial Hospital had been ordered closed and the people here also got angry and during elections the Dimaporo’s cannot get votes here and that’s why in the last 2007 election you (Governor Khalid Dimaporo) was lost here. “Pasinsya nalang kay naapil ka nga unta wala kay labot ani.”, Mayor Lantud said.

2^nd District Provincial Board Member Solaiman Abbas extended his thanks to Mayor Eleanor Lantud, Vice Mayor Lacson Lantud, the SBs and the media for he was invited in this Press Conference. Hon Abbas said that “He opposed the expansion of Martial Law in Pantao-Ragat, he even requested PGMA to spare Pantao-Ragat from Martial Law. He is witnessed that there are no hot fire-arms here and the all fire-arms here are with licenses and spare the innocent people to suffer as what had happened during Marcos era.”

If Martial Law be implemented what will you do? Vice Mayor Lacson Lantud answered, he said that “If PGMA agrees in favor of the expansion of Martial Law here we’ll accept it. That’s why this time, we also asked our Liberal Partymates’ Senators to help them that Martial Law will not be expanded in this town.”

Mayor Eleanor Lantud and Vice Mayor Lacson Lantud are much thankful to the support of the Media that their invitation for a Press Conference have been granted, and also they give thanks to all Municipal, Barangay officials, Military, PNP and the Dep-Ed personnel.

For the alleged issue by the Dimaporo to Mayor Eleanor Lantud and Vice Mayor Lacson Lantud that they have burned the houses in Sitio Lupak, Barangay Pantao-Morug, this town. The Media men about 19 persons were brought to the said area and the Media saw and witnessed that the houses still there and no one was burned as allegedly aired against the LGU leaders here. The coconut fruits still there not harvested.

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Pantao Ragat, Lanao Norte : No to Martial Law

by RIC CLET

Pantao Ragat, Lanao del Norte – Local officials of this town expressed disappointment over the proposals of Rep. Abdullah D. Dimaporo and Gov. Khalid Q. Dimaporo that their town be placed under Martial law or under the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Control due to the presence of private army allegedly maintained by politicians controlling some government agencies including law enforcement instrumentalities.

Mayor N. Neshreen “Leonor” Dimaporo Lantud and Vice Mayor Lacson Lantud along with their Sangunian members during a press conference disclosed that their town is very peaceful where Muslims and Christians harmoniously co-exist..

“We are not maintaining private army nor controlling some of the agencies of the government that include the teachers of the Department of Education (DepEd) and law enforcement “,Vice mayor Lantud noted.

Rep.and Gov. Dimaporo in a published statements disclosed that people in this town are living in fear due to a politician controlled “private army”.

Vice mayor Lantud stressed that what Rep. Dimaporo described in his statements was the army’s trained Civilian Auxiliary Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) which is also under the administration and operational control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (AFP)

In an interview, DepEd District Supervisor Norhaya M. Saro of Pantao Ragat who also attended the press conference said that Mayor and Vice Mayor Lantud are not intervening with DepEd business.

In his response to Media inquiries Pantao Ragat Chief of Police SPO2 Casan Azis noted that “the peace and order situation here is very normal. People here are not living in fear ”.

Vice mayor Lantud laughed off when asked about the idea that Rep. Dimaporo will be submitting the recommendations to the poll agency for fear of a repeat of Maguindanao Massacre.
Vice mayor Lantud said that they don’t have backhoe. ”If ever we have such equipment we will use it for infra development projects such as road network which the Congressman did not help us in developing our municipal road “,Vice mayor Lantud said”.

“ I challenged Rep. Dimaporo to recommend the entire Lanao del Norte to be placed under Comelec control not to single out Pantao Ragat wjhich is also a part of the province “,Vice Mayor Lantud said.

He added that the move of his cousins (Dimaporos ) is a political harassment for not supporting his administration.. “This is their way of putting Pantao Ragat in a bad image without thinking that this town is part of his administration ”, he said. The Lantuds are known critics to Dimaporo’s administration.

Mayor Lantud allegedly claimed that former governor Imelda Dimaporo closed the operation of the municipal hospital here after she lost in the elections.

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The Lantuds claimed that former Gov. Imelda, Rep. Abdullah and the incumbent Gov. Khalid lost in Pantao Ragat in the past elections.

Lanao del Norte provincial government is scheduled to host a national motocross competition which the Lantuds claimed that Governor Khalid is trying to promote and sell Lanao del Norte to would-be investors and tourists yet his parents are trying to put the province in bad image.

PHILIP JAMES MONGAYA TREMEDAL
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CDO and Iligan: HR Day a success!

By PJTremedal

Iligan City – The International Day for Human Rights embodied in a UN Resolution was celebrated with a literay competition, a concert for a cause and an indignation rally to showcase what Human Rights should be.

Amidst the heat of the sun people from all walks of life, non-government organizations, and some militant groups join the celebration. Speeches and messages from people and individuals who advocates human rights show their might even some of them had been receiving threats from people who are unfriendly to the cause.

With the Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace here in Iligan leading the activity, participants wave their placards of condolences to the Maguindanao Massacre, ideas of militarization, people needs of good governance and other issues and concern of today’s plight of the poor and tired farmers, fisherfolks, youths, professionals and even government employees say yes to human rights.

Meanwhile in Cagayan de Oro city, more or less 5,000 participants in 35 truckloads started their HR celebration rallying at the gates of the 4^th Infantry Division, PA in Camp Evangelista at Patag to call against Oplan Bantay Laya, again the incredible Maguindanao Massacre and Proclamation 1959 as they want to scrap it, and other issues and concern for a change of this government into what it should do for the Filipino people who for decades suffered against tyranny, anti-democratic way, and agony of extra judicial killings of peasant leaders, media, and other who advocates human rights.

Participants came from non-goverment organizations, militants groups, and ordinary people in all walks of life, In Iligan they gather in the Plza, while in Cagayan de Oro form Camp Evangelista they proceeded to the Kagawasan Stage in Divisoria.

The International Human Rights day is celebrated every December 10 to advocates respect to human rights.

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Women votes for May 2010 crucial for reforms

Photo shows participants in recently concluded Electoral Reforms Forum conducted by the Civil Society Organization-Forum for Peace,Inc. at MSU-IIT, Iligan City.

By PJTremedal

Iligan City – As part and parcel of this government, woman votes this coming election on May 2010 is very crucial for change and should be given a chance for an electoral reform.

During the CSO-FP led Forum on electoral Reforms. Ms. Anita Sescon who speak for the Commission on Women for Mindanao sighted important things what women should do on election time for they has the equal participation in political life to play a pivotal role for the Filipino women advancement.

In the Beijing Platform for Action argues that “Women’s equal participation in decision making is not only to demand for justice or democracy but can also be seen as necessary condition for women’s interests to be taken into account”.

Ms. Sescon added that as an experience, political process often dictate the outcome, “We have bad processes for choosing our public leaders, so we get bad public leaders and poor governance” she said.

Wanting a real, intelligent and effective process, people must change in choosing their leaders. Public leadership is public service.

For Mindanao, never has the challenge to choose the right public leaders been more urgent. Many of the problems are caused, not exacerbated, by poor governance- by wrong policies and programs decided and implemented by the wrong people with wrong motives.

In the Electoral Reforms Forum conducted this week in the MSU-IIT College of Education Amphitheater, speakers like Fr. Albert Mendez for the call of the church for principled politics, and Atty Abdullah Dalidig’s Civil Society Responses for Electoral Reforms has enlightened the participants.

In the afternoon, a workshop pertaining to suggested reforms not only in this upcoming May Election 2010 but to achieved an honest, orderly, and peaceful election in the years to come.

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Cong.Rufus Rodriguez says: “Pedestrians must be safe!”

By Gerry Gorit

Cagayan de Oro City - A P3.8-million pedestrian overpass will soon cross the national highway at Barangay Cugman in Cagayan de Oro City to serve mainly pupils of the Cugman Elementary School, a public school and other pedestrians.

“This school children and other pedestrians must be safe in crossing the highway”, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez said.

The groundbreaking for the project took place at 9 a.m. today with officials of the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Cagayan de Oro 2^nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, barangay officials led by the barangay chairman Ernie Jandayan and representatives of donor companies.

This is a joint private and public project, with the private sector represented by William Sumalinog of Holcim Philippines, Armando Caina of Boysen, Zaldo Elizaga of the Cagayan de Oro chapter of the United Architects of the Philippines.

With the blessing of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the DPWH regional office under regional director Jerome de la Rosa will undertake the construction.

The DPWH regional office was represented by engineer Tita Rayo. Chemical Alloy and Pentagon Steel will also send representatives to the groundbreaking ceremony.

Teachers and pupils of the school were also present.

Pupils of Cugman Elementary School will now have to use this overpass when crossing the highway as it is to be built right in front of the school.

The area of the project has been accident-prone to pedestrians in past years.

While other barangays in the city along the national highway have had pedestrian overpasses built in previous years, this would be the first in Cugman which is situated some 10 kilometers from the city proper.

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Malacanang : Martial law is necessary to quell Rebellion

By: PIA Pagadian City

Malacañang today defended President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s declaration of martial law in Maguindanao citing its necessity to quell rebellion in eight municipalities in the area who are pre-positioning to wield violence and possibly attack the government forces. In a press conference, Press Secretary Cerge M. Remonde said that the President only did what she needs to do to provide justice for the victims of Maguindanao massacre that left 57 people dead including women and journalists.

“The declaration of martial law in Maguindanao is not an overreaction. It was necessary to quell rebellion that was designed to protect the suspects in the horrible Maguindanao massacre. This is necessary to give justice to the victims of the massacre,” Remonde said. He noted that martial law will be implemented for a relative time only to give way to the government authorities to apprehend the suspects and seize loose firearms in Maguindanao.

The declaration of martial law, he stressed, is also meant to secure the safety of the witnesses and uphold press freedom. Remonde said that President Arroyo was determined to solve the massacre in Maguindanao when she personally visited the families of the victims of the horrible crime.

“However, this will not distract the President on her other duties and on what she needs to do,” he added. According to Remonde the implementation of martial law in Maguindanao is also aimed to give justice to the victims and serve as a reminder that the government will not tolerate rebellion in any part of the country.

Also present during the press conference are Philippine National Police (PNP) General Andy Caro, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Brigadier General Gaudencio Pangilinan, and AFP Information Chief Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner. Caro explained that prior to the declaration of martial law, there were private armies massing in eight municipalities ready to rebel against the government forces.

“We will do everything necessary to bring back peace and security in Maguindanao. The implementation of martial law gave us the chance to go after the suspects who are part of the rebellion and possible suspects of massacre,” Caro added. He noted that just this morning, the joint forces of the PNP and AFP were able to seize loose firearms in different residences of the Ampatuans including improvised armored vehicles and a truck loaded with 330 boxes of ammunitions which can provide for a thousand troops.

As of 10:40 am today, the joint forces also raided the ranch of Governor Andal Ampatuan Sr. in Datu Hoffer where they were able to seize 11 M-14, 13 M-16, one carbine, one AK-47, one grenade launcher, five ultimax rifles, two M-60, one caliber 50 machine gun, one caliber 30, 3 grand riffles, nine assorted ammunitions and one barrel of M-60.

Caro explained that before the declaration of martial law, the AFP and PNP forces were likewise having a hard time securing search warrants because the judges in Cotabato went on mass leave. When the government forces brought the problem to the Supreme Court, a judge was assigned to issue the arrest warrant but eventually did not cooperate afterwards for fear of his family’s safety.

The High Court then appointed another one but after giving a search warrant, the second judge did not cooperate the next day for the threats his family were receiving. Other government agencies also ceased to operate after the massacre. This, he added, prompted the President to declare martial law because the government and the justice system were no longer operating in Maguindanao.

According to Pangilinan, a total of 62 suspects have been arrested including the 15 they arrested this morning. Caro added that what the joint forces are doing in Maguindanao right now include the containment of all the provinces, going after rebel groups who are pre-positioning, and the search and seizure of loose firearms. (PIA- Pagadian City)

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