Moro group opposes Sulu oil exploration

COTABATO CITY – The Suara Bangsamoro (Voice of the Bangsamoro) has express dismay and apprehension on government’s ‘comfort and receptiveness’ stance on the programmed exploration of Exxon Mobil Corporation, a US-based oil firm, in the country.

Department of Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes bragged that Exxon Mobil, the world’s largest oil and gas company, is set to explore the rich-sea of Sulu – the home to one of the world heritage sites, Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park , for crude oil deposits this year.

Sulu Sea connects the South China Sea and Celebes Sea which serves as route for tuna and other varieties of fishes going in and out the Pacific Ocean.

Bai Ali Indayla, Suara Bangsamoro’s national secretary-general, frets on the imminent aftermath of exploration to the people of Sulu which have had enough of never-ending wars, kidnaps, hamlets and killings since American occupation.

“The affirmation of Secretary Reyes that ‘Exxon Mobil will not go into any area unless the reserves are large scale or large amount of quality of oil’ is a proof that the United States of America has long been probing the vastness and productiveness of the Philippines soil in the guise of Balikatan exercises and humanitarian missions,” Indayla said.

Secretary Reyes also boasts that the oil in the Philippines such as the one produced in Galoc oil field in Palawan Basin owned by Australia-based, Otto Energy Ltd., will be sold to local refineries like Shell and Petron and would translate to a lower price of gasoline.

Moreover, ExxonMobil is into number of global operating divisions such as Upstream (oil exploration, extraction, shipping, and wholesale operations), Downstream (marketing, refining, and retail operations), Chemical division and many others. Thus, Exxon Mobil does explore, produce and sell crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products.

“The government’s claim is a big deceit to the Bangsamoro people and the Filipino people in general. Exxon Mobil is not only into exploration but wants total control to oil-rich nations like it did in several countries like Iraq , Afghanistan , Angola , Sudan , Kazakhstan and Indonesia . In the Philippines , they had started in Galoc which is north of Sulu Sea and has extended in the nearby area, Calauit oil field, also in Palawan Basin ,” Indayla explained.

“The Exxon Mobil’s exploration in Sulu sea , which would spend $110 million for exploration alone, is just a genesis to roster of large-scale explorations in other oil-rich areas of the country. Despite government’s concession to foreign oil companies to explore the Philippine Basin, the country continuously import oil and experience mounting increases of prices in petroleum as well as basic commodities,” Indayla stressed.

The Suara Bangsamoro strongly opposes the exploration of Exxon Mobil in Sulu Sea for it would not only affect and devastate the environment and people’s livelihood, which majority are fishermen, but also a testament to the long-list of documents that Filipino people vend their natural resources to foreign countries.

Indayla added, “Foreign countries especially the US have long been the ones benefiting the wealth of our natural resources. It’s not the Filipino people. We are putting our hands to a tiger’s mouth by allowing them utilize and exploit our own reserves,” Indayla said.

“We are calling the government to safeguard the welfare of the people first before the interest of foreign corporations. With their presence, is Philippine’s economy developing? Did it change the impoverished lives of the Filipino people especially the Moro? But, after all, the Philippine constitution guarantees several provisions and exempts taxes to all foreign corporations like oil companies,” Indayla said. #

Justice for Angeline!

Students and teachers of University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan town of North Cotabato stage an indignation march-rally on March 06 calling justice for Angeline and swift investigation to prosecute the perpetrator.

Suara condemns rape of USM student; demands justice

The Suara Bangsamoro (Voice of the Bangsamoro) here denounce the recent case of sexual violence in Kabacan town of North Cotabato where the alleged perpetrator belongs to an influential family in Datu Montawal, Maguindanao.

According to board mates, 'Angeline' (not her real name), a 17-year old Human Ecology and Food Sciences student in the University of Southern Mindanao (USM), was abducted at their boarding house around 6 in the evening of February 25 by a certain Bianca Montawal Paglas and two male companions.

At 11:00 P.M., Angeline came back with bloodstains on her body which prompted her friends to call the latter's father.

In her affidavit, Angeline narrated that she was brought to Pareng Bong's Lodging House and there, she was raped by Datu Andy Montawal.

Angeline's father along with board mates went immediately to the nearest police station and filed complaint against Montawal and his alleged accomplices.

Bai Ali Indayla, national secretary-general of Suara Bangsamoro, said that they have received reports of numerous rape cases and harassments inside the USM campus but 'only now, a victim courageously speaks out and file a legal case against the well-known perpetrator.'

Together with Indayla's group, various organizations including Gabriela Women’s Party, North Cotabato 1st District Representative Emmylou Santos-Mendoza, lawyers and other individuals have already expressed support to Angeline and her family to get justice and bring the perpetrators to cell.

On March 5, a candle-lighting for justice was held in USM spearheaded by the College of Human Ecology and Food Sciences (CHEFS) local student government and was supported by Kabacan Mayor George Tan and councilors, CHEFS Dean Aleha Plasa Salik, USM Director of Students Affairs Nicolas Turnos, University Student Government (USG) president Junmar Bañas, CHEFS governor Ralph Ryan Rafael and faculty and staff of all Colleges and Institutes of the University.

On March 6, around 7,000 USM students, faculty and staff and concern individuals wore black t-shirts and red wristbands and joined the USG-led indignation march-rally to lobby with the local government unit of Kabacan and calling Regional Trial Court Fiscal Samuel Fajardo to expedite Angeline's case to immediately put the perpetrators to jail.

The group also demands for the closure of Pareng Bong's Lodging House where Angeline was allegedly raped and for police visibility in the entire USM premise for the safety of the students.

Suara Bangsamoro challenges the USM administration, who has not released a condemnation statement since the incident was exposed, to speak out and seek justice for Angeline and other rape victims.

"We dare the administration of USM to stand for justice especially for their student. Angeline’s courage as well as the witnesses is commendable. We appreciated so much the bravery of Angeline's family to cope their daughter's ordeal and took legal action to search justice and prosecute the perpetrators. We appeal to all victims of sexual violence to speak out and fight. Silence will tolerate the horrible and devilish act of these perpetrators," Indayla said.

Suara Bangsamoro strongly condemns all form of violence against women and children and pledge continuous support until justice for Angeline and all victims of sexual abuses will be served. #

Moro group slams US officials’ visit in ARMM; fears Balikatan anew

COTABATO CITY – The Suara Bangsamoro (Voice of the Bangsamoro) here staged a picket rally in front of the Office of the Regional Governor (ORG) compound following the visit of two (2) officials from United States Embassy on March 04 in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Bai Ali Indayla, the group’s national secretary-general, said that her group learned that US envoy to the Philippines Kristie Kenny will be sending officials to talk to members of Regional Legislative Assembly of the autonomous region (RLA-ARRM) on its opposition stance on Balikatan.

“The RLA’s position contradicts with that of the Governor of ARMM. We really appreciate the courageous move of RLA to defy Balikatan for the benefit of its constituents. But, we smell something fishy with this visit. We fear another round of Balikatan is systematically taking place,” Indayla said.

Indayla stressed that ‘the Arroyo administration permitted the US government to take pleasure in using the territory and taking advantage of rich resources of Philippine soil while the Filipino people especially the Bangsamoro suffer from violations of human rights committed by American soldiers.’

Further, the group reaffirms call for the complete withdrawal of US Special Operations Forces in the country ‘like what Filipinos did in 1991.’

Indayla challenges the ARMM assembly not to be deceived by the sugar-coated tongue of US officials who were well-trained in psychological warfare.

“We hope that RLA will stay firm on its position. The Bangsamoro people need officials that could survive fighting for the right to self determination, ancestral domain and national sovereignty,” Indayla emphasized.

Chants such as ‘Unahin ang Bayan, Huwag ang Dayuhan’ (Country first, not the foreigners) and ‘US Imperialist, No. 1 Terrorist’ rock the ORG compound while the group continuously calls all Bangsamoro people to persist in battling for the country's independence and strong resistance to US intervention.

Stand for Truth and Justice!

Nuns belong to Oblates of Notre Dame in Cotabato City join the Candlelighting cum Interfaith Prayer Rally on February 29 calling for truth and justice amid ZTE-NBN scandal.

Suara, JIL, civil society groups hold interfaith prayer rally for truth and justice

COTABATO CITY – The Suara Bangsamoro, Jesus Is Lord Movement (JIL) and other Moro and civil society groups stage an interfaith prayer cum candle lighting rally for truth and justice on Friday evening.

The groups that also compose of Notre Dame Center for Catechesis (NDCC), Mindanao Interfaith for Human Rights Advocacy (MIHRA), Solidarity Network for Justice and Peace (SNJP) and Concern Students for Justice and Peace (CSJP), convene at City Plaza at 4:00 to 7:00 PM, as part of the people’s unyielding quest for truth, justice, accountability and meaningful reforms in governance amid the deteriorating political crisis prodded by the $329-million ZTE-NBN scam.

Danny Vergara, resident pastor of JIL-Cotabato City, said that the interfaith prayer assembly is a dignified gathering of groups, sectors and individuals who are resolute to grasp the genuine truth of the overpriced ZTE-NBN deal and make all those involved, including Ms. Gloria Arroyo, accountable for their abuses and callousness.

Suara Bangsamoro’s national secretary-general, Bai Ali Indayla remarked that the movement calling for Arroyo’s resignation or ouster keeps mounting and intensifying as the political crisis drags on stressing that ‘Arroyo has a lot to answer including the all-out war policies against the Bangsamoro people, organized extra-judicial killings, Hello Garci scandal, electoral fraud and numerous cases of multi-billion peso graft and corruption involving her family and cronies.’

“The pathetic statement of CBCP could not give GMA some relief. Cries of people from all walks of life are intense. She has escaped judgment in the past, but people now decisively say, ‘Enough of Corruption, Enough of GMA!’ Indayla said.

The groups concluded the activity with the singing of ‘Bayan Ko’ that marks the almost every struggle of Filipino people since American and Japanese colonialism to the 1986 ‘People Power’ revolt that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.

Further, the groups emphasized to continue staging series of activities including street education, sinehang bayan (film viewing) and concert for truth to edify the people on the present political quagmire until the downfall of Arroyo’s regime. #