Sabah Issue: A dilemma between Malaysia and the Sulu sultanate?

The Sabah issue has painstakingly dragged the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo in unending woe over attempt to claim a lost territory believed illegally occupied by Malaysia. However, despite efforts to regain the land through legal means and peaceful process, the endeavor has remained fruitless until today.

Heirs to the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo has attempted a number of times seeking Malaysia’s attention to resolve the issue asking to return Sabah to its rightful owner- the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo-but no amount of influence was given to the chagrin of the claimants. Malaysia is obstinate on the issue and the claimant’s unwavering struggle continues seemingly hooked in a landlord-tenant dilemma.

History narrates that Sabah or North Borneo and the Island of Palawan were bestowed as gifts to the Sultan of Sulu by a Brunei Sultan in 1658 in gratitude for the assistance of the Sulu sultan to avert a civil war in Borneo. North Borneo then was part of the early kingdom of Brunei. By virtue of this act, Sabah became a property of the Sultan of Sulu and the Sultanate of Sulu.

In 1878, His Majesty, Sultan Jamalul A’lam Kiram, (Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo) being a legitimate owner, leased North Borneo now Sabah to a British company of Gustavus Baron De Overbeck and Alfred Dent for their use and their heirs but the Lease prohibits the transfer of Sabah to any nation, company or individual without consent of His Majesty’s government (Government of the Sultan of Sulu).

The transfer of Sabah by Great Britain to Malaysia in 1963 constituted a breach of the provisions of the 1878 Lease as the Government of the Sulu sultan did not consent to its transfer to Malaysia. As a point in law, Sabah must and should be returned to the Lessor, the Sultan of Sulu and the Sultanate of Sulu.

History again tells that in 1906 and 1920, the United States formally reminded Great Britain that Sabah did not belong to Great Britain and was still part of the Sultanate of Sulu. However, Great Britain ignored and did not listen to the US reminder and did the transfer of Sabah to Malaysia in 1963. This transfer is prohibited under the Sabah Lease of 1878. The continued occupation of Sabah by Malaysia is illegal and a blatant violation of the Lease and must end accordingly.

Malaysia according to the sultans pays the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu a very small annual rent of Php 77,442.36 or US$ 1,500 for Sabah, a real estate property with a land area of 73,711 square kilometers. This small yearly rent is unjust, unfair and is unacceptable, the heirs said.

Sabah contributes US$30 billion GDP to the Malaysian economy annually and looking at fair commercial rental property transactions the Lessor can expect to receive rental payment of at least 10% to 12% or US$ 3 billion to US 3.6 billion per year from the Tenant, the heirs alleged.

However, the Lessor only received a meager US$1,500 per year, thus, the Malaysian payment needs to be discussed and re-negotiated to the satisfaction of all concerned, the heirs stressed.

Meanwhile, the unfair and unjust treatment of the Malaysian government towards the issue, Sabah owners regarded the act as Un-Islamic and Haram. While the lack of economic developments in the Sultanate of Sulu and also in Sabah had made many pro independence groups to advocate the independence move of Sulu and Sabah, the heirs said.

They said that Malaysia is a Muslim nation that grabs Sabah, the land owned by Muslims from the Sultanate of Sulu. Malaysia’s land-grabbing of Sabah is betrayal of Islam and of the norms of civilized society, the heirs added.

Meanwhile, one of the Sultans, HM Sultan Muhammad Fuad A. Kiram I in his web page said that if Malaysia wants to stay in Sabah lawfully, then Malaysia must pay the correct and proper amount of rent of US$ 3.6 billion per year. If the rental payment is not acceptable, he proposes for “Joint Administration“between the Sultan of Sulu and Malaysia to administer Sabah and all incomes derived should be split co-equally, similar to the joint administration or “Condominium of France and Great Britain in Vanuatu” prior to Vanuatu’s independence.

He added that income to be derived from Sabah rent or Joint Administration will be used to develop Sulu and to uplift the welfare of the Sulu people with roads, hospitals, medicines, education, peace and order etc. The correct rent payment by Malaysia to the Sultanate of Sulu and/or the Joint Administration of Sabah will be the solution to the Sabah issue. In any joint Administration the Sultanate of Sulu will insist that 50% of the earnings will be for Sabah people’s social and economic development and 25% each for Malaysia and the Sultanate of Sulu.

“If the rental payment or Joint Administration is not acceptable then Malaysia must vacate Sabah and return Sabah to the lawful owners – the people of the Sultanate of Sulu,” the sultan stressed.

"These are three (3) options available to resolve the Sabah illegal occupation by Malaysia," the Sultan added.

Moro Note - Show me the money

Running a government requires funds to pay for the bureaucracy and to deliver basic services.

Anyone contemplating support to 'self-determination' should ask this question to those leading the cause - how shall we pay for the government bureaucracy and delivery basic services?

Depending on foreign donation/aid is not a sustainable solution; this is a short-term and unreliable option. This merely makes the polity susceptible to political compromise and in serving foreign interests. This is a form of neo-colonialism - it is as if we just change master.

Any self respecting government would need to generate its own resources primarily through taxation. This is a bitter solution. But it is the main source of all governments. Even revenues from natural resources are derived through taxation.

Creativity is a critical element for government to generate resources - how to build industries, source investments, and thereafter generate taxes. Those leading the cause for self-determination should be able to show a doable and honest-to-goodness blueprint for resource generation. If not they should start now. A government without funds to pay for its operation and deliver basic services will have chaos from day 1.

Many have been deluded to think self-determination as a cure-all solution. It is not. It is the beginning of the perennial challenge of governance and to making government work for the people. So the next time you think about self determination, think about taxation, it is the lifeblood of any government - we are tax now, we will tax ourselves later. (By Noor Saada)

Regaining Sabah to its rightful place

From the point of view of Malaysia, the Sabah issue has been finally resolved by the State of Sabah becoming independent and member of the federated states of Malaysia. But His Majesty, Sultan Ismail D. kiram of Sulu said that Sabah is still part and parcel of the sultanate of Sulu and any issue relative thereto should be resolved bilaterally if a bloody armed confrontation shall be avoided in the years to come. That is what he said in a letter he sent to then Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir Mohammad, on November 14, 1999.

We lack information on whether or not the Sultan and the Prime Minister have any exchange of letter after that date. But it seems the Malaysian leadership is ignoring what the Sultan said in that so undiplomatic, albeit brotherly, epistle. At any rate, we feel there is a need on the part of Malaysia to look into the Sabah issue rather than have it relegated to the background to the chagrin and consternation of the ra’ayat of Sultan Kiram.

His Majesty, Sultan Ismail D. Kiram is a very religious and humble Muslim but quite different from his predecessor in his obsession for justice and peace on earth. But while patience and perseverance are still apparent in his person, we already discern unmistakable tendency on his part to look for other means, if peaceful ones, proved ineffective or futile in the course of his endeavor to bring back Sabah to the fold of the Sultanate of Sulu.

The fact that the Sultan and Kadatu-an, including the Royal Special Forces, have been secretly meeting to consider the Sabah agenda, whatever that means, should make us apprehensive, as we are now in fact apprehensive, of the Sultan’s moves relative to how Sabah might be regained to her rightful place, that is, the Sultanate of Sulu.

Talks have it that he had already sent several delegations to Indonesia and China for cultural purposes; now it is said that the Sultan is at the head of a delegation to the Netherlands or the united States of cultural or business purposes; his Majesty is even said to have shown schedules of some visits to some countries in the Middle East, for the same reasons. Anyhow, it may not be unreasonable to speculate that the Sabah issue might be brought out as a subject for extra discussion with the leaders of the host countries in the course of the visits.

The cession of Sabah to the Sultanate of Sulu is a fact established by history since 1704 which is now beyond dispute except to the colonizers or those who stand to benefit from the territorial expansion of Malaya. The lease of Sabah to Baron de Overbeck in 1877 is another indisputable historical fact known throughout the world.

In 1962, the late President Diosdado Macapagal of the Philippines had made known of the intention of the Philippine government to the Malaysian government though diplomatic channel to help the Sultan of Sulu to welcome the return of Sabah in 1978 on which date the lease term of Sabah should have expired after a period of one hundred (100) years. The Macapagal idea did not materialize because the Malaysian government had Sabah become a member of the Federation of Malaysia on the basis of Special Mission Report in 1963.

The late President Ferdinand Marcos, a legal luminary, knew what violence the unilateral and illegal act of the UN report did to the integrity and rights of the Sultanate of Sulu. He proposed to help the Sultan to recover his buccaneered territory but the Operation Merdeka undertaken for that purpose ended in the Corregidor fiasco in 1968. At any rate, Marcos had Sabah included as part of the Philippines at least in the constitutional definition of the Philippine territory in 1973.

There seems nothing brewing between the Sultan of Sulu and the Malaysian government if judged on the basis of the serenity of waters separating Sulu from Kuala Lumpur now. But some friends, who are aware of the Sultan’s moves relative to Sabah recovery, are saying that Sabah is a powder keg the ignition of which will surely disturb not only the Southeast Asian countries but some other countries of the world.

In view of the aforementioned notion and scenario, it may be in order to suggest that in the interest of justice and peace, the Kuala Lumpur government look seriously into the Sabah issue, find ways and means on how it may be resolved to the satisfaction of the parties concerned before anything cataclysmic, God forbids, may happen as a result of the Malaysian arrogance or scheme to relegate the matter to the background to the consternation of the Bangsamoro people. (Abubakar B. Mohammad, Maga Tawi)

Upholding freedom of the press

The media protest in Estonia for the proposed legislation that compels journalist to reveal their news sources is an effort that world media should uphold. The bill is viewed an act violating the sanctity of press freedom, particularly the off-the cuff privilege. Freedom of speech in all democratic countries is a constitutional guarantee provided for the people and a doppelganger of journalist’ inherent task; forcing journalist to reveal their sources is next to infringement of the constitutional guarantee given the fourth estate. The off-the-cuff interview that is supposed to be a source and a journalist privilege is no longer a benefit but becomes a compelling duty to reveal sources.

The bill is not only focusing to prohibit the media from doing investigative reporting whereby the objective is to ferret out corruption and wrongdoings in the government and in the private sector but netting the journalist to face probable imprisonment for the expose’ on government’s malfeasance and misfeasance.

If the Estonian Bill pushes through and becomes a law, journalists of that country should start rolling their mats as government’s watchdogs and fiscalizers because they no longer are protected by the sanctity of press freedom. They will be haunted by fear to face prosecution for felony against government officials who have the power, influence and control, and above all, the fear of being netted to prison will certainly make them think into threading on with government expose’.

For this fact, democratic liberty to freely criticize the government is put into limitation and the media has the tendency to being gripped by the powers-that-be. The fourth estate will become merely an institution of news delivery and a tool to simply inform the people of only the good side of governance and never its wrongdoings. It appears more as accomplice of the government rather than its adversary.

Nonetheless, there are countries that media does not symbolize adversarial journalism. In Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore for instance, the media serves as an accomplice in the government’s thrust and development. Not much with its watchdogs functions. But these countries have moved forward leaving the string attached between the government and media as good partners to bring the country move forward.

The difference caught between countries with strong media adversary are those that are prone to corruption and not, and fear the presence of the fourth estate as watchdogs of the government abuses viewed to bereft the people of their benefits.

The Estonia bill might be a precedent to curbing freedom of speech in other countries; aware that media is threat and gripping it becomes an opportunity to achieve what leaders wish to in their governance.

MYSELF PROJECT: Helping Others Help Themselves

The Muslim Youth Skills Enhancement and Language Fundamentals (MYSELF) Program is a youth oriented-project that is fully intended to help Out-of School Youths (OSYs), one of the marginalized sectors of society today, that because of poverty are unable to attain formal education which eventually avert their living decent lives in a society and place majority of them, most often than not, as eyesores and maladies of society.  

MYSELF project was borne out of concern for this sector of society.  It is a free program that gives non-formal education, in a way, giving free training skills and language enhancement to equip the OSYs with the necessary knowledge that will help them build their vocational career while becoming productive members of society.

How it started? This is the story… it was a Sunday morning when a young skinny boy of 14, clad in a worn out dress, came to me asking to buy a language book which I have written in four languages.  He knew from a friend that I was selling a four-language book on English, Malay, Filipino, and Tausug for P350.00 but begged a favor of asking me to accept an amount of P120.00 because that was his only money obtained from doing labor work in a wharf carrying freights from the stores to sea transport bound for the islands, in his tender age.

With sympathy, I asked him if he was a student trying extra or sideline jobs for his studies. He bluntly told me that he was an out-of-school youth working and earning a meager income of a hundred peso a day to sustain a living for himself.  He was an orphan.

I was touched by a determination of a young boy to overwhelm the difficulties of life that in such a tender age, has the courage of squarely facing the challenges of life just to live, and the ambition to get a good living by wanting to learn Malay language because of the intention to travel to Sabah, Malaysia and get a good paying labor job.  Sabah is a neighbor of this island province and could be traveled backdoor in only four hours.

So I gave him the book without taking his money.  He told me that he knows how to read since he finished his fifth grade in the elementary and could learn Malay, on his own, from the Tausug language (his native tongue) translation of the book.  I was struck by an admiration and a strong self-determination of a tender-aged youth, who, despite poverty and lack of education is not only settled of improving his life but as well emancipating his substandard living into a better future.

That night, while I was in bed, an idea permeated mind.  I said to myself “What if I teach English, Malay and Filipino to out-of-school youths? Probably, I could help them enhance their language skills which can help  build their self-confidence.  They may have not gone to school formally knowing how to speak Basic English, Malay and Filipino but my teaching them would surely help enhance their language knowledge and capabilities, which is a step next to getting a vocation coupled with some technical skills.

I slept that night with the idea of setting a free language and skills training center aimed at helping marginalized youths by providing them the non-formal education necessary to build their self-confidence, reliance and determination vis-à-vis  the challenges and advancements of life as they grow.

Setting the center was not quite hard, since I own a little publishing outfit -Reenafezrah Publishing- we made the little office in my residence available for the training.  We named it Reenafezrah Publishing and Technical Training Center.

Although, it took me the prowess of convincing my friend to help me with the technical skills training, I handled the language classes in English, Malay, and Filipino.  And with seven OSys, one blackboard, one long table, the free language program and skills training took off.

On the other hand, from the little funds we have in hand, we provided them free tools for the technical house wiring class,  notebooks, pens and the four-language book as materials in the MYSELF project.   It is on the premise of wanting to help the youth that the “Help Others Help Themselves” advocacy from the MYSELF program by Reenafezrah Publishing and Technical Training Center as the training provider begun. 

And this advocacy shall continue for as long as there are out-of-school youths who need the helping hand and there are concerned people who are willing to donate funds to maintain the project, we are there to assist the youths and provide them the non-formal education they need to get out of poverty, in order to improve their lives and become productive members of society.

So it is now your concern, our concern and everybody’s concern to help our fellowmen achieve the success in life that is likely obstructed by the plight of being on the level of poverty, of which can be emancipated by the concern of people like you, who have the means and capacity to help others in a modest way.

As good Samaritans you should HELP OTHERS HELP THEMSELVES.

Repatriation of Filipinos from Sabah

Illegal Filipinos seeking a good living in Sabah, Malaysia, are endlessly rounded up by authorities for illegal stay and violation of immigration laws. In just a span of weeks, 70 people including children were hardheartedly repatriated to the Philippines, after serving two or three months jail terms or detention in penampungan (detention quarters) in Tawau, Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu.

Just yesterday morning, a second group of 30 halaws (repatriates), who were empty-handed, broke and busted arrived Bongao from Zamboanga city and proceeded directly to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) receiving center for assistance.

According to Ms. Sonia Colinares, DSWD officer-in-charge, most of the halaws were from the second district of Tawi-Tawi, who, after being interviewed by DSWD staff and given food assistance were sent off to their home place.

It was learnt from the repatriates that Sabah authorities were continuously conducting operation to arrest undocumented foreigners to rid Sabah of illegal immigrants. Accordingly, police and immigration authorities not only rounded Filipinos in the streets but even checked houses, worksites, kem (estates), and areas known to be lairs of undocumented immigrants.

The arrest was not only confined to Filipinos said Almurid Ajan, a 16-year old halaw rounded at Kota Kinabalu, who served a two-month detention, but also included other nationals like Indonesians and Pakistanis.

Meanwhile, the manpower shortage in the business and labor industries in Sabah, has prompted its government to allow its Immigration Bureau to issue IM Tiga Belas (IM 13), a work pass issued to illegal workers under the sponsorship of employers and companies hiring the services of foreign workers.

This special work permit is levied RM2,000.00 a year from the employers to guarantee their sponsored workers for a year work, an option that legalizes the stay of illegal immigrants. Yet, most Filipinos remained undocumented and preferred to be hunted like wild animals caged for two or three months in penampungan, before they would be shipped home broke and empty-handed.

But indigent Filipinos who have found Sabah a paradise, in spite of the odds of getting legal stay, and most often than not, play hide and seek with Sabah authorities keep coming back to the country they believed offering the chance for decent living.

And no matter how difficult it is for them going back door, of which the possibility of being intercepted by naval authorities and put to jail even before earning, they (Filipinos) keep going against all odds.

The reason is poverty in one’s own country. Unless the government does something tangible to offer, such as jobs or income generating livelihood programs for this level of Filipinos, they keep going back at the expense of risk and trauma.

Fate of the TESDANS

A group of beneficiaries of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) who graduated vocational courses from the TESDA programs said that Filipinos have a lot to thank the former administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Most of the 2009 Tesdans (program beneficiary) who completed vocational courses from Mahardika Institute of Technology, Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College and other TESDA sponsored centers in Tawi-Tawi have gone abroad reaping the end result of the training obtained from TESDA programs, according to Salha Abdullah.

Salha, a Tesdan who belonged to the 2009 group said that most of her classmates are now working in Malaysia, and are getting good salaries because of the skills training they acquired from the TESDA programs.

On her part, Salha said that she was not lucky to use her skill saying that while on the process of applying abroad she met a guy who caught her heart and got married.

But said she was thankful for having gained a skill in housekeeping, one of the vocational courses offered by TESDA. “At least, I have a reserve skill which I could make use anytime and I thank TESDA for this,” she stressed.

She also said that President Arroyo’s TESDA programs were proven effective to answer the call of time in our country and has helped thousands of Filipinos, especially, the youth sector.

Meanwhile, Tesdans of this academic year in Tawi-Tawi are dubious in the stability of the programs fearing that the new administration might rip the funds to sustain the Arroyo legacy created under Republic Act 7796, and cripple its operations.

They hope that President Noynoy Aquino will consider sustaining the program in consideration of the fate of thousands of Tesdans in the country, dependable and wishing to secure bright future through the means of TESDA programs

New Bongao Mayor assumes office on 52nd Kamahardikaan Day

Honorable Hadji Jasper Que, newly elected mayor of Bongao, has assumed office, Thursday, the day the premier municipality commemorates its 52nd Kamahardikaan on July 1, 2010.

The celebration marked the historical transition of power within a reigning family that gripped the local governance for almost a decade, where the senior Que, Hadji Albert, outgoing three-termed mayor relegated the position to the younger Que, Hadji Jasper, his son, in a simple turn-over protocol witnessed by the public at the municipal government building in Bongao.

Meanwhile, interviewed by the media, Hadji Albert Que, now a senior councilor, cited the achievements he made for the premier town in his 9-year stint as its top executive.

He said that the incoming mayor would only need to continue what he had done, put in more valuable projects for the benefits of the people, and improve the municipality in terms of infrastructure.

“I am confident that Hadji Jasper can work better than me and with my guidance and the support of the council, which I am a member, Bongao Municipal Government (BMG) can go well ahead,” he stressed.

Asked about the inauguration of his public market legacy project, Councilor Que said that he is leaving the activity to the new mayor.

He said the P20 million -public market is ready to serve the people and just waiting its inaugural activity before awarding it to those who applied for its occupancy.

Meanwhile, in the same interview, Mayor Jasper Que, whose assumption to office as the new BMG chief and in whose hands lie the dawn and future of Bongao the next three years, has laid down his agenda for the first 100 days in office.

The young Que pledged to carry on with the good performance of his predecessor, complete his unfinished programs and concentrate on acquiring new infrastructures and economic advancement of the constituency by providing them livelihood projects.

However, he pointed out that the first 100 days aside from continuing his predecessors programs, will be devoted to meeting the department heads and identifying the problems that need to be addressed in the different departments, re-organizing and re-shuffling the personnel into departments where their expertise are most fitted, restricting employees’ absences by procuring a modern facility to monitor their attendance, re-organize a special group to cater and respond to the petty request of the constituents, establish a rapport with the government line agencies and other LGUs, prioritize the early inaugural of the public market for its immediate use, and familiarize himself with the inherent role, tasks and responsibilities of a municipal chief executive.

Asked what beneficial project that he has in mind in the coming days, the young mayor considered establishing a municipal hospital aimed at strengthening the health services of the municipal government to the people.

He also intends to increase the number of PHILHEALTH beneficiaries in order to help the poor in addressing their health problems.

From his statements, Mayor Que is viewed to be an executive going deep down to work for the benefits of his constituency.

Others said that he would be a workaholic mayor where his business experiences will pave way to help him run BMG in a manner far better than his father.

In another development, the anniversary celebration has marked another milestone in the unity of the people. The LGUs, academe, government line agencies, AFP, PNP, NGOs, POs and all sectors of society in Bongao have shown support that symbolized unity.

This symbol of unity was demonstrated by the long traditional parade joined by the above-mentioned groups that pictured the success of the 52nd anniversary celebration of Bongao Municipal Government.

Is GMA's Cha-Cha a blooper?

Analyzing the intent of thrusting charter change at this early stage of a new administration is viewed, apparently, a personal interest on the part of who is proposing the review and change of the Constitution.

Former President GMA startled not only President Noy Aquino, critics and the people for her blatant move, of course, with the exception of allies who share mutual interest, in proposing a House Bill to change the constitution right on the first session day of congress.

The action is viewed demonstrating an obvious challenge to the power of the incumbent president and congress in determining a top priority for the country, whether to give importance to change the form of government that is likely to bridge personal aggrandizement or into achieving personal ambition to catapult oneself again to the helm of national leadership.

Assuming there are antiquated provisions of the 1987 constitution that need revisions, it is, however, viewed by many as an untimely proposal. Changing it at this point in time is still immaterial, the fact that, there are other vital issues that should top the immediate concern of this administration and congress rather than calling for a constitutional convention or constitutional assembly that will blatantly pave way for personal ambition.

On the other hand, Congressman Teddy Casino, among others, has surmised that the proposal of her new colleague in congress to push for charter change is to eye the premiership of a federal government as planned. It is to be noted that the former president has tried several times during her administration to push for constitutional change but failed, because majority of the people did not like to dance her music.

Nonetheless, even before Congresswoman Arroyo pushed her bill, Casino et al already filed three graft cases against Arroyo before the Department of Justice, which is now a task seen to challenge and trigger DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima’s dilemma.

In a sense, it is not simply easy for de Lima to pin down a former president and now member of the House of Representatives, who still maintains powerful connections and influence with officials of the government.

Although President Aquino’s mandate on de Lima and the Truth Commission of former Justice Chief Hilario Davide to dig deep down the alleged graft and corruption perpetrated by the former president and cohorts, it is presumed adamant for the latter to prosecute a powerful figure like GMA unless proven otherwise.

However, because no one is above the law, anyone who has committed a crime proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a court of law has to face the consequence of his culpability. It is, therefore, no exception for any official, irrespective of position and influence not to serve the penalty of guilt if found culpable, just like former President Erap Estrada, who was put behind bars by the Arroyo government for plunder, if only to prove that judicial system works in the New Philippines.

What Lies Ahead for P-Noy?

President Benigno “NoyNoy” Aquino, III was indeed destined to become the country’s top man even before he decided to run for the presidency in the last elections. It was destiny that ferried him to the helm of power.

The odds of getting elected against powerful machinery of the presidential contenders were no barriers to his victory as the chosen and pre-destined leader of the country.

His official admission to Malacanang last June 30, has indeed paved way for his performance of the first task as the country’s 15th President albeit criticism of the blunder in giving a first memorandum described as blooper in his very first day of work. Yet Noy is only human and such slip-up does not mean much to diminish the credibility of a man with passion to achieve the transition of the country to a new Philippines. But what lies ahead of him in the next six years?

True that his predecessor, judged for the legacies she left in her nine years of power, for which her critics say, were all at the expense of the government’s deficit of about P340 billion of which the Noy administration inherits, shall now become the burden of the succeeding powers-that-be to start at the very beginning. Blatantly, President Aquino is trying to manifest the political will, to eradicate the alleged grime of the former administration and introduce change for new Philippines.

Yet even as President Aquino still has to prove his worth, his critics seem to have begun discrediting his capability to lead the country into a new nation of fair excellence.

Issues of psychiatric background during the elections, alleged rift with his vice president, who is likely to deny any cabinet position that has to do with the investigation of alleged graft and corruption of the outgoing president, his being a bachelor at the midst of his life, the shadow cabinet of Sec. Norberto Gonzales, the midnight appointments made by his predecessor, the proposed addition in the academic year for elementary and secondary education, and the inclusion of undefined sex education in the elementary level are but few of the aggravating concerns that might disturb the president, notwithstanding the economic imbalance of the country today.

But grave is the statement of Sec. Gonzales pointing to the formation of a shadow cabinet for the “government in waiting?” An implication of this statement is something that the Aquino government should dissect to the fullest, the fact that there was a precedent during the regime of former President Cory, P-Noy’s mother, of bloody coup die’tats.

In a nutshell, President NoyNoy Aquino should be given all the benefits of doubt to prove his able capabilities to lead a nation. The support and cooperation of the citizenry should be given a fully elected president by majority of the people.

Filipinos should bind themselves together and rally behind the young president whose objectives are to emancipate the Filipino people from the lethargy of economic disproportion and the bondage of poverty.

Captors ask P80M to free hostages

Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines - Kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) group in custody of two Malaysian nationals, whom they have abducted in February, this year, has demanded 80 million pesos in ransom to release their hostages, according to sources.

The preys, Lahad Datu businessmen Chen Vui Chung, 42, and Lau Vui Chau, 33 were kidnapped at Sibangkat diving resort in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia by KFR group believed linked to the dreaded Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and Basilan.

Their fate lies on the capacity of their family to raise the ransom money for their safe release.

However, sources said that the demand for ransom has raised and dropped amidst the undisclosed negotiation. The initial demand was placed at P15 million. Then lowered to P7.5 million, half of the original amount sought, during the elections and was raised to the current demand of P80 million, after the elections.

Meanwhile, sources revealed that the two hostages were taken back to Tawi-Tawi from Sulu, where they were long kept since captivity. Military pursuits against Abu Sayyaf in Sulu and unsuccessful negotiations for the early release have prompted kidnappers to take the hostages back to Tawi-Tawi.

Hid in an unknown location in this southern province their captors are waiting for the ransom while the captives are wary of their fate from the claws of the terrorists.

As this developed, the Provincial Crisis Management Committee (PCMC), alarmed by the volatile situation confronting the peaceful province convened last week to address the problem.

Governor Sadikul Sahali, Alhaj, in presiding the PCMC meeting delivered the stand of the provincial government by maintaining peaceful approaches in solving the crisis while sustaining the no ransom policy of the government.

It was learned that WesMinCom Commander, Major General Benjamin Dolorfino, who was present at the meeting, has opted for the military solution to suppress the KFR group and force the release of the hostages.

But the provincial leadership maintained its stand in peacefully mitigating the crisis to avoid mayhem in Tawi-Tawi.

It was learned that PCMC would dispatch emissary to further negotiate the freeing of the hostages.

The PCMC meeting was attended by the Philippine Marines, Task Force 62, PNP and other concerned sectors invited by the Crisis Management Committee.

As of press time, deadlock in the negotiation for the release of the hostages remains. No further development is taking a fresh direction.