Fighting in Mindanao

Fighting between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) continued for a fourth day in Sultan Sa Barongis, Sharif Saydona, and Datu Piang in Maguindanao.

The 6th Infantry Division claims 34 BIFF rebels killed, but was denied by the BIFF who claimed only 2 of its men were wounded.

BIFF spokesperson Abu Misry Mama said they want an independent state. The BIFF is headed by Ameril Umbra Kato. It broke away from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in 2008.

Ten thousand people have been displaced by the hostilities. Eight thousand people in nearby Pikit town also evacuated. A bomb was also exploded in the bus terminal in Datu Piang.

The BIFF is reported to have broken up into small groups.

2,600 metric tons smuggled

50,000 metric tons (MT) of rice were smuggled weekly in 2013, according to Atty. Agaton Teodoro Uvero, Deputy Commissioner For Assessment And Operations Coordinating Group. Uvero said smugglers were bringing in 2,000 containers a week in 2013, using the ports of Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, a former Customs Commissioner, questioned Uvero why their intelligence units failed to discover and stop the smuggling. Uvero said they only have P5 million for intelligence.

Meanwhile, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) Rep. Rafael Mariano, submitted a letter to Representative Isidro Ungab (Davao City), certifying that Starcraft International Trading Corp., a company connected with Davidson Bangayan alias “David Tan”, was given by NFA a permit to import 5,000 MT. It has been noted that the lawyer of David Tan is also the lawyer of Starcraft.

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile told Uvero that to stop smuggling, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) must have the full backing of Malacañang. Customs insiders report that “David Tan” and other rice smugglers have strong connections with Malacañang.  Customs observers also say that smuggling could be stopped, if Customs operatives raided the warehouses where the containers of as much as 2,000 are delivered.  Customs intelligence officers can also trace where the huge quantities of rice are delivered, distributed and retailed.

Rice experts can easily identify what is Vietnam rice. There are only a few big distributors of rice, mostly situated on Dagupan Street in Tondo.

Bunkhouses stopped

Presidential Assistant on Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) Panfilo Lacson announced that the construction of bunkhouses in Leyte and Samar has been stopped.

This was also confirmed by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson, who announced that in lieu of bunkhouses, P30,000 worth of construction materials will be given to Yolanda victims whose houses have been destroyed. To date, Lacson has not released the shortlist of 10 people who were involved in the Yolanda bunkhouse contracts.

Vice President Jejomar Binay announced that the National Housing Authority (NHA) project in Tanauan, Leyte is on track, in cooperation with Gawad Kalinga. NHA has announced a program of building 60,000 homes in the Yolanda disaster areas.

Warnings

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Vicente Sotto III, and Representatives Rodolfo Biazon and Celso Lobregat issued warnings against rushing approval of the basic laws establishing the Bangsamoro Substate.

Senator Enrile raised possible constitutional issues, in connection with the delineation of territory, and the sharing of powers with the National government, as well as wealth sharing, needed to be closely studied.

Senator Sotto supported Senator Enrile’s observations and asked that all stockholders and critics be consulted. At the moment, the Christian Minority in the new Bangsamoro political entity has not been heard. One major issue with the Christian communities is the land issue. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are claiming the whole of Mindanao as ancestral land.

Representative Lobregat pointed out that the Framework Agreement with the Bangsamoro (FAB) is devoid of any provision that says the FAB must adhere to the Philippine Constitution.

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II announced that the proposed basic law will be accorded the highest priority, including possible constitutional amendments.

It will be a long process, considering how controversial the issue is. Just like the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, this basic law will be questioned in the Supreme Court.

Sotto’s bill

Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has filed a bill in the Senate to revive the death penalty for foreign drug offenders. Senator Jinggoy Estrada supports the Sotto bill.

China and Singapore have the death penalty, especially for drug dealers and pushers.

Representatives Rufus Rodriguez and Maximo Rodriguez filed a bill in the House, imposing the death penalty on foreigners whose countries also imposed the death penalty.

It is expected that the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will oppose the bills reviving the death penalty.

Supreme Court hears DAP case

The Supreme Court heard the oral arguments of the government delivered by Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Butch Abad.

Jardeleza and Abad said the Disbursement Allocation Program (DAP) has been stopped since July, even before the petitions to declare it unconstitutional and therefore, it is now moot.

Justices raised questions on the different uses of the DAP, including the P50-100 million given to senators during the Corona impeachment.

Another hearing has been set for February 18, during which the side of the complainants will be heard.

Observers wonder why the Supreme Court is stretching the hearing days which are being scheduled months apart, giving rise to suspicions. Malacañang is lobbying to delay disposition of the case.

Abad testified that Cabinet members of the Economic Development Cluster have recommended termination of the DAP.

Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno focused on the supposed defects of National Budget Circular 541, issued by Abad in July 2012, which constituted the DAP.

Justices Arturo Brion, Marvic Leonen, and Roberto Abad questioned the legal basis for establishing the DAP.