Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, the House minority leader, called the investigation useless because people already know what happened.

“The investigation has nothing to unravel because the entire world has already witnessed the horrifying mishandling of the episode two weeks ago,” he said at a news conference.

But deputy minority leader and Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez said the investigation had proven “very revealing” of the lapses of officials who were supposed to be on top of the situation.

“It was very revealing. Good thing it was not covered by CNN or Al Jazeera when officials said that when the shooting started, they were having dinner,” he said.

Pangasinan Representative Rodolfo Bataoil, a retired police general, said the incident revealed the problems the Philippine National Police needs to address, including the lack of equipment, training and management of crisis situations.

“We hope to see hands-on management of the crisis even at the ground level.  As I have been telling my commanders, when there is a crisis, the people should see and feel them capable of managing the situation,” he said.

The fact-finding body headed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima began its probe last Friday.  It is expected to come up with a report after two weeks.

Alex was only 33 when he died.

But in his short life, Alex made a lasting mark in Philippine journalism.

He was more than a chronicler of the travails of Juan de la Cruz. He cast away the conventions of Western journalism that, in their blandness often serve the status quo, and fiercely embraced the dictum that his craft existed to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

He rarely wasted his talent on reporting the oftentimes hopeless and useless antics of so-called leaders whose only qualifications are being born to wealth and privilege except to unmask the venality and banality that passes for governance in this benighted land.

With admirable skill and compassion, he documented in a language that was passionate and eloquent, yet easily readable, the sufferings and triumphs, the sorrows and joys, the shattered dreams and hopes of our long-suffering people.

Alexander Martin Remollino was more than a journalist. He was a Filipino journalist. Not by mere virtue of birth but because he truly devoted his craft to and for his audience, the Filipino people.

Mabuhay ka, Alex!

NUJP Directorate

Nestor Burgos Jr.

Nonoy Espina

Sonny Fernandez
Alwyn Alburo

Rowena Paraan

Marlon Ramos

Julie Alipala

Redempto Anda

Desiree Caluza

Cherryl Fiel

Jovencio Godoy Jr.

Danny Lucas

Arnell Ozaeta

Ilang-Ilang Quijano

May Rodriguez

“If Robredo has any self-esteem left, he should resign with alacrity and save himself from further embarrassment and the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) from a damaged leadership,” Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said at a news conference.

Robredo’s status came to light after Malacañang, hounded by criticisms over the handling of the bloody August 23 hostage taking in Manila that claimed the lives of eight Hong Kong residents and the dismissed policeman who held them captive in an 11-hour standoff at the Luneta Park marked by the absence of national government officials, said Robredo did not need to be subjected to scrutiny by the Commission on Appointments since he was only serving in an acting capacity.

Lagman said the Palace admission had made Robredo, the former Naga City mayor who won the Ramon Magsaysay award for government service, a “political eunuch” who had been “castrated gradually and deliberately” by President Benigno Aquino III.

He cited the stripping of Robredo’s supervision over the Philippine National Police (PNP), which Aquino gave to Interior Underscretary Rico Puno.

Republic Act 6975 places the PNP under the DILG and names the secretary of the department chairman and presiding officer of the National Police Commission.

Aquino’s statement during the presidential campaign that he and Robredo have a different “work style” also betrayed his “ambivalence” towards the DILG chief, Lagman said.

Lagman also pointed out that “the doubt (about) Robredo’s qualifications is an aftermath of the fatal hostage taking fiasco that has triggered persistent calls for Robredo to either voluntarily resign or be ousted from the Cabinet.”

Zambales Representative Ma. Milagros Magsaysay said Robredo’s continued presence in the Cabinet despite the mishandling of the hostage crisis “manifests the weak leadership” of Aquino.

“There’s a flaw in his choices for Cabinet and that’s what’s causing him problems,” she said.

MANILA, Philippines – Police and soldiers arrested Wednesday two women who were alleged transporting five kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, more known as the drug “shabu,” on a bus in Masbate province.

Reports reaching Camp Crame identified the two as Faith Yhinulva and Hope Florita, both of Cebu.

The reports said the two were arrested around 10 a.m. at Crossing, Masbate City onboard a passenger bus bound for Cataingan town, also in the province.

Their arrest came after authorities received a tip of a huge shipment of illegal drugs being transported through the province.

MANILA, Philippines – Rape and physical abuse accounted for the most offenses committed against children in the first half of the year, data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed.

Figures from the PNP’s Women and Children’s Concerns Division (WCCD) made available Wednesday showed a total of 6653 “Crime Against Children Cases (CACCs)” recorded nationwide from January 1 to the end of June, with 4,488, or 67 percent of these criminal offenses such as rape, physical abuse, battery, child trafficking and kidnapping.

Topping the list was physical abuses, with 1991 cases reported, followed by rape, with 1,801, of which 60 cases were incestuous.

While acknowledging that the figures are high, WCCD director Chief Superintendent Yolanda Tanigue worried that the number of unreported crimes against children could be twice as high as those recorded.

“What I am more concerned is those cases that are not reported to the police or any other authorities, and the unreported cases could be much higher than what we have now,” Tanigue told dateline.ph in an interview.

The remaining 2,165 CACCs were violations of special laws for the protection of children.

Asked why she thought many more cases remain unreported, Tanigue replied: “Well, maybe because of our culture. They are ashamed that it they report any of these incidents, it could embarrass their family.”

She said this was true especially for incestuous rapes.

“This is the reason why we need to arm the community (with the) certain knowledge that they can help children who are victims of CACCs even if (the victim’s) own family refuses to report (the) incident,” Tanigue said.

Tanigue said WCCD desks in all police stations have been ordered to immerse themselves in the communities they are assigned to and conduct information drives on how to report CACCs.

“Our WCCD personnel are trained to handle these kinds of sensitive cases. All that we need now is the help of the community…” Tanigue said.

Aside from rape and physical abuses, the other reported crimes against children were acts of lasciviousness (527), attempted rape (144), child trafficking (41), and kidnapping (17).

Western Visayas had the most CACCs with 751, followed by Central Visayas with 578, Metro Manila with 545, and Region 11 with 456.

At the budget hearing of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo said Mlacañang has only allotted P27 million for legal assistance to OFWs in the proposed P1.654-trillion 2011 national budget

This cuts by almost half the P50 million legal assistance fund this year, which,  Nueva Vizacaya Representative Carlos Padilla pointed out, is only half of the P100 million the Migrant Workers Act mandates.

“These are instance where we can show that congressional insertions are vital and necessary especially for our OFWs. They send us US$17 billion in remittances, why should we deprive them of assistance?” Padilla asked.

“Are you going to accept this kind of aberration or violation of the law?” Minority leader and Albay Representative Edcel Lagman asked Romulo.

“We will do our best to make representations to comply with the law, we will insist that the law is complied with,” Romulo replied.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos said the legal assistance fund is used to provide legal counsel to OFWs, especially those facing charges for serious crimes like murder or drug trafficking or to seek the commutation of those sentenced to death.

The DFA’s 2011 budget has also dropped from this year’s P12.7 billion to only P11 billion. This represents 0.67 percent of the proposed national budget.

Lagman, Padilla, Bello and Zambales Representative Ma. Milagros Magsaysay said they sympathized with the DFA for the cut but asked why Romulo was not complaining.

But in his opening statement, Romulo said he supports President Benigno Aquino III’s austerity program, intended to reduce the budget deficit, “that’s why we are not going to ask for any increase in our budget.”

“In the spirit of teamwork and (because of the) gaping deficit…we abide by the decision of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)  to cut our budget by almost 40 percent,” he said.

Romulo said they initially proposed P19 billion, but this was reduced to P10.98 billion. However, Romulo said he supports the administration’s decision to allocate the bulk of the money to education, social services and health.

Magsaysay, however, said it would be impossible for the DFA to fulfill its role of assisting distressed OFWs and becoming the country’s showcase to the world.

“Kung wala sa lugar ang austerity measure, useless lang (If the austerity measure is misplaced, it is useless),” she said.

GAMBANG, BAKUN, Benguet — The people of Bakun together with their officials led by Mayor Marcelo Contada called for the suspension of the mining exploration in Gambang by the Royalco Philippines Incorporated in a dialogue held at Bagtangan Elementary School, Bagtangan, Gambang, Bakun, last Friday.

“Idawat mi manipud iti munisipyo ken iti probinsiya ditoy kabsat tayo nga naggapu MGB ta nu mabalin ket maga koma pay lang man push through ay exploration di Royalco ta siya nan esa ay man-iibawan tako ay umili” (We, from the municipal government and the provincial government call on our friends from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to suspend the mining exploration of the Royalco because this is the reason why our community here is divided), Contada said. The discussions were heated and the community people cheered the opposition speakers.

He also added that the community should learn lessons from their neighboring communities that had experienced disunity due to mining explorations or applications.

Company’s role on community conflict

Disunity in barangay Bakun arose when Royalco applied for Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) by dividing the community in three phases to soften resistance. Atty. Fausto Maliones from the Gambang Indigenous Peoples and Community Organizations (GIPACO) shared that when Royalco (formerly Oceana Gold) applied for FPIC in 2005, Gambang created a council of leaders and elders which was composed of 90 people. The said council made a decision to have a referendum to get the position of each household regarding the said mining exploration.

The referendum Maliones said happened on February 15, 2006 wherein among the 500 voters, 454 voted against the exploration, 45 voted otherwise and one was invalid. Thus, on February 24, 2006, the council of elders issued their certificate of rejection towards the said mining exploration and submitted it to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) on April 3, 2006.

He said that the Oceana Gold again applied for another mining exploration under the name, Royalco Philippines Incorporated on 2007. “Ket datayo nga umili, idi immay ti Royalco, nagudwa-gudwa tayo babaen iti panang-divide da iti barangay tayo iti phase 1, phase 2, ken phase 3,” (When Royalco came, they divided our barangay into three phases) Maliones said. This division sowed disunity he said and the Gambang community experienced discord.

Linda Tukyas said that they are always worried because their husbands have started quarrelling since Royalco came in their community. “Nu mabalin koma, uray maga et na tay siya et nan gapu nan pan-iibawan da. Idi awan daytoy exploration met ket haan kami nga agaapa.” (If it is possible, let us stop this exploration because it is really the source of misunderstanding. Before this exploration project we were united and there were no quarrels).

Permit without due consent

Dominga Gaspar asked the community if they were aware of the mining exploration permit affecting their community and majority answered no. She aired her sentiments to those who signed in the Memorandum of Agreement allowing their community to be explored. “Adi mi inil-ila nan papel ay manpermit san exploration san sitios mi ket apay nga napapermitan kami ay adi mi am-ammu?” (We did not see the papers allowing our sitios to be subjected to mining exploration. Why is it then that an exploration permit exists without our knowledge?) Gaspar asked.

She added, “Din sanay papel ay naidawat no sinoman di nankedaw ay mapaboran das babaen san linlinteg ay nangibasaran da. Damagek man. Dakami ngay met ay manseggaang ay kaadwan. Into na linteg ay para kan dakami? Into na linteg ay para si karbengan mi kas umili? Into nan linteg ay para kan dakami a kas ipugaw? Into nan linteg ay para iti ancestral land ay tinawid mi?” (May I ask those who requested for this permit what is their legal basis? How about the majority of us who are not in favor of such a permit? What is the law that favors us? Where is the law that promotes our rights as a community? Where is the law that promotes our rights as peoples? And where is the law that promotes our rights to our ancestral land?) Gaspar said which was met with cheers and applause from the community.

However, the representative from MGB, Salvador Genetiano said that they issued Royalco their permit because the NCIP submitted to them the company’s certificate of compliance of the FPIC and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the company and the community.

Genetiano also assured the people that even though the permit has been issued to Royalco if the community will not allow it, the company cannot do anything. He added that only the lands of those who will allow the exploration will be explored.

However, Tukyas questioned the sincerity of such pronouncement. “Where is the assurance that our lands will not be affected when our lands are located in the same mountain?” she said.

Aside from the problems the permit for exploration caused to the relationship among the community people, Maliones said that the FPIC process was questionable.

The consent he reiterated should be given by the whole community in a consensus agreement and not by dividing one community in several phases.

Some people also saw the irregularity in the MOA signed by the pro-mining exploration group. They said that in phase 3, it did not state that only the lands of those who allow mining exploration will be explored but it is stated that the mining exploration will cover 1,442 hectares. This includes the lands of the whole community whether they are in favor or not.

Maliones recommended that the municipal and provincial government, MGB and the community will sign an agreement that will invalidate the MOA and the FPIC. The community agreed to Maliones’ recommendation. However, Mayor Contada suggested that the two parties should set a day for another dialogue for them to come into terms. He declared that while Gambang has yet to unite for one definite position, the mining exploration will be suspended.

A call to unity

Benguet Board Members Cayat, Camsol and Saguid all recommended that as one community, Gambang should only take one stand on the said issue: either they will allow it or not.

This was also agreed to by Atty. Lyndon Morales from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). He said “as Indigenous Peoples (IPs), we are entitled to what they call collective rights. We IPs they say are weak thus, having collective rights make us stronger to defend our ancestral domain,” he said.

The NCIP was expected to attend the dialogue but unfortunately, they failed to attend.(nordis.net)

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The downpour was heavy that afternoon, when Jude Baggo, secretary general of the Cordillera Human Rights Allaince (CHRA), gave an interview. It was as if the heavens were pouring out their anger.

On this same day, August 30, friends and families of victims of enforced disappearance all over the world commemorated the International Day of the Disappeared. The United Nations had declared it to be a day to remember the disappeared to draw attention to the fate of the victims.

August 30 also marks the 711th day of James’ disappearance. He was abducted on September 17, 2008 a few meters away from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Cordillera Regional headquarters. Witnesses said his abductors were heavily armed men who introduced themselves as police officers.

James Balao is the first victim of enforced disappearance in the Cordillera under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s (GMA) administration, according to CHRA data. CHRA is an alliance of human rights organizations and advocates in the region.

“Since James’ abduction; not a single day passed that his family, friends and colleagues have not thought of him. And today, as the world remembers all the disappeared, the first that comes to our minds is James,” Jude shared.

CHRA together with the Balao family and the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) have exhausted all measures in their search for James and all the other victims of enforced disappearance.

“We searched military camps, sought the assistance of the courts, dialogued with top ranking government officials concerned, wrote letters and petitions.We called upon our elders and indigenous leaders to invoke our ancestors to help us. We marched in the streets in protests and condemnation. Our voices, as it may seem, have fallen on deaf ears but we have not lost hope,” Jude stressed.

According to Karapatan, over 200 progressive leaders, youth activists, peasants, workers and indigenous peoples were enforcedly disappeared under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s administration from 2001 to the first half of 2010.

James’ father, Arthur Balao participated in almost all of these endeavors to find his son. His undying hope and determination to see his son one day sustained his family in the search for James. He would speak in protest rallies, before the media and in dialogues with government officials.

During the on site hearing of the Committee on Human Rights, House of Representatives last March 12, 2009 at the University of the Philippines Baguio, he appeled to the congressmen saying, “On April 19, my son James will be turning a year older. We would like to have him and be with him on his birthday. Please, talk to the President (GMA) to release my son.”

Arthur was very supportive and understanding of James. He supported James in his work for the advancement of indigenous peoples and human rights. He understood even the dangers of his work.

In his last interview with a local TV network in Baguio, he asked President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to facilitate the immediate release of his son. “I am now in my sick bed and I want to see my son before I die,” he appealed.

A few days after the said interview, he passed away barely a month after his wife, Jane Balao died on June 10. “It pains us to note that James Balao’s parents passed away while their son remains disappeared,” Baggo stated.

“And we have vowed not stop searching for James. We will not give up on the fight for justice and against impunity and human rights violations,” he added.

The rains have stopped just before the interview ended. Baggo sighed in relief for he must head to another media interview to retell the story of James’s disappearance and his family and friends’ continuing search for him. (nordis.net)

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Xijen College of Mountain Province was one of the national awardees of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) this year beating the 12 regions in the country for the 2010 Kabalikat sa Laang-Bisig award.

Joel Fagsao, founder of Xijen College said, “Xijen has been doing corporate social responsibility before the term was coined by the government. I think this is the reason why the judges chose our school for the award”.

According to Fagsao, since the founding of Xijen College in 2000, they had been giving computer literacy training to different high schools in Mountain Province. It ended on 2008 when the government promoted a program for computer literacy.

Staff of Xijen literally carried the computer units to remote barrios in MP. “We basically provided computer literacy in all MP,” Fagsao added.

They stayed 3 years in Natonin, and one year in several barrios of Tadian, Sabangan, Paracelis and others. “It was like a computer laboratory in wheels,” Fagsao added. Every computer laboratory that they installed in each high school had 20 computer units. He added that Xijen shouldered the payment for computers, provided the training materials, salary of the teachers and the bill for the electricity consummed. The only counterpart of every student according to him was a P250 fee every month. He added that Xijen is lucky enough to have met several international and national funders to make this project possible.

“Xijen highlights the relevance of vocational courses especially now that the youth consider Technical and Vocational courses as lowly ones. This is the only private school that remains a technical and vocational institution up to now,” Fagsao said.

Fagsao said that if you will see what Xijen has done, it may seem irrelevant. But during those times when people in MP don’t have any idea what a computer is and what a computer can do, Xijen has done a great job in instilling computer literacy in the province.

The mushrooming of computer shops in MP especially in Bontoc, according to Fagsao, was the result of the computer training that they provided. He also said that the training created a venue for their graduates to build their own business.

Meanwhile, the other winners from the Cordillera Region are Renante Cobcobo for the 2010 National TESDA Idol; Lauro Serafin, the 2010 champion in Machining during the 2010 National Trainers Encounter; and Raul Samson, 2009 TESDA Idol Highest Achiever, who was given public recognition this year.

Cobcobo, a hair dresser said, “You must always have the hunger to learn. Kung ang akala mo sa sarili mo ay magaling ka na, hindi ka uunlad” (If you think you are good already, you won’t be able to develop).

This according to him is the reason why he won the said award. He is always attending seminars in hairdressing to imrove his craft.

He added that he wants to change the mindset of people regarding hairdressing. “Hair dressing is a good profession especially if you do your job well,” he said. People have regarded hairdressing as a lowly profession and he thinks that this is the reason why there are only a few hairdressers here in Baguio.

Meanwhile, Cenon Querubin, the OIC for TESDA said, “It is high time that we change our mindset in terms of preparing for our future.”

He added that there are a lot of TESDA graduates who became successful entreprenuers, and found jobs that brought good incomes right after graduating in TESDA. He cited Cobcobo who has already several salons in La Trinidad. (nordis.net)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/07 September) – “Is she a master’s degree holder or a lawyer? The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) charter requires that credential,” asked Sebastian “Angie” Angliongto, former chair of the Mindanao Business Council and Mindanao Economic Development Council.

Angliongto, who had said over a month ago that he hopes the next MinDA chair would be “hindi trapo” (not a traditional politician), said the appointment of former three-term South Cotabato representative Luwalhati Ricasa-Antonino as the new MinDA chair is “still political since Antonino supported P-Noy in the last election.”

The MinDA chair under RA 9996, the law creating MinDA, holds a Cabinet rank and will represent Mindanao in the Cabinet. He/she will also serve a term of “six years from the date of his/her appointment unless removed for cause.”

But the law also says the MinDA chair should have the following qualifications: “that he/she be a holder of a degree in law or a masteral degree in any of the following fields: economics, business, public administration, law, management, or their equivalent  and have at least ten (10) years relevant experience in said fields: provided, further, that he/she shall be a resident of Mindanao for at least (5) years before the appointment; Provided, finally, that he/she shall also be the Philippine Senior Official for BIMP-EAGA and shall likewise be an ex officio member of the NEDA Board and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority Board.”

Antonino, who is turning 68 on October 22, served as representative of the 1st district of South Cotabato from 1992 to 2001. In 1996, she and two other representatives – Daisy Avance-Fuentes (now back to being representative of the second district of South Cotabato after having served three terms as South Cotabato governor) and the late Maria Clara Lobregat of Zamboanga City – rose to national prominence for having led protest actions against what would be the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD), the transitory mechanism agreed upon by government and the Moro National Liberation Front.

According to the congressional website, www.congress.ph, under the list of members of the 11th Congress, the last in which she served as representative, Antonino’s profession was listed as “Engineer” and her membership in House Committees as follows: chair of Foreign Affairs, vice chair of Muslim Affairs, and member of the Committees on Games & Amusement, Good Government, Women, Agriculture and Food.

Surfing Luwalahati Antonino and Luwalhati Ricasa-Antonino through the internet yielded very little information about Antonino’s educational background.

Aside from educational qualifications, however, questions as to Antonino’s other qualifications as the highest ranking official of Mindanao tasked with coordinating peace and development efforts are hounding Antonino even before she could formally assume the post. (Sources at the MinDA office said Antonino will report to the Davao City office in mid-September).

Guiamel Alim, executive director of the Kadtuntaya Foundation, Inc., said, the naming of Antonino as MinDA chair “makes the Boses Mindanaw useless. What are we CSOs (civil society organizations) if our united voices are set aside? Sayang!”

Fr. Eliseo “Jun” Mercado, OMI, former Notre Dame University president and now executive director of the Institute of Autonomy and Governance (IAG) said Antonino “is a three-termer in Congress so she has more connections than Jess (Dureza). She is a continuation of Jess. Politico. Her position reflects the Mindanao except ARMM as shown in the results of the May elections.”

Redemptorist Brother Karl Gaspar said Antonino is “nobody in terms of engagements with urgent Mindanao issues e.g. peace, ancestral domain of Lumads, environment, inter-faith dialogue, etc. She’s hardly known by civil society groups. She may not have visited most of Mindanao especially critical areas and her family is known to be anti-Moro.”

A disappointed Carlos Manlupig, executive director of the Balay Mindanaw Group of NGOs, said the appointment of Antonino “showed how P-Noy appreciates Mindanao. God save Mindanao!” he said.

Manlupig’s group supported Aquino’s campaign in Northern Mindanao.

South Cotabato Governor Arthur Pingoy said he is “glad that the head of MinDA will come from South Cotabato.”

Compostela Valley Governor said Arturo Uy said “I have yet to know her personally but I’ve heard she’s hardworking.”

Vicente Lao of the Mindanao Business Council who was rooting for the retention of Dureza as MinDA chair, said “Lu (Antonino) will make a good MinDA chair. She is familiar with the problems of Mindanao. MinBC will fully support her.”

MinDA was created under Republic Act 9996 and signed into law on February 17, 2010 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to “promote, coordinate and facilitate the active and extensive participation of all sectors to effect the socioeconomic development of Mindanao.”

The chair’s  role is crucial in that the law provides that it is the policy of the State to “accelerate the socioeconomic growth of Mindanao, increasing its trade, tourism and investments, encouraging private enterprise and advancing efforts towards peace and development”  through MinDA.

Rafael Gomez, a senior aide under then Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Paul Dominguez during the Ramos administration and now a communications adviser for public and private sectors, said of Antonino’s appointment: “That she’s a woman and a member of a prominent political family may have their merits but Mindanao is such a complex affair. I hope that after the initial fanfare, Ms Antonino hits the ground running, assesses where we all stand and where we’ve faltered, and ultimately musters the political will to make a solid contribution to our future. With recurring conflicts, ongoing BIMP-EAGA activities, an in-your-face island-community attitude, and strong civil society voices, the MinDA chair clearly needs to be proactive. It’s not a walk in the park. I sincerely wish Ms Antonino all the best.”

Members of peace advocacy groups are concerned over the effect of Antonino’s appointment on the peace processes particularly with the Bangsamoro. But MindaNews columnist Patricio Diaz said to an e-group of Mindanawons: “What should be of greater concern for Mindanawons is the question: Is she the best Mindanawon for the job — to advance the economic development of Mindanao? And more: The appointment of Lu Antonino, this early, shows what Aquino’s Malacañang mean by Aquino’s promise of  ‘Change’,” he said.

MindaNews made several attempts to contact Antonino but she could not be reached for comment. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)