MANILA — In a firm stance against violence targeting educators in the region, the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has denounced the recent ambush on Mamadatu Dalandas.

The 39-year-old school head of Datu Tecson Elementary School in Sultan sa Barongis town, Maguindanao del Sur, fell victim to unidentified gunmen in Barangay Manongkaling, Mamasapano, on Monday (22 Jan 2024).

Expressing deep concern, Mohagher Iqbal, head of the MBHTE, issued a statement urging authorities to conduct a thorough and prompt investigation, emphasizing the need for justice to prevail. The motive behind the attack remains unknown, with ongoing investigations led by Lt. Lou Christian Villoñes, the municipal police chief.

Dalandas’ tragic fate follows similar incidents in the region, as he becomes the second headteacher in Sultan sa Barongis to be targeted in the past three months and the third in BARMM since May 2023.

The education ministry unequivocally declares that acts of violence have no place within educational institutions, standing resolute against such brutal incidents.

As the educational community mourns this loss, the BARMM calls for a swift resolution to the investigation, underscoring their commitment to ensuring the safety of educators within the region.

(By el Amigo/MNM)

The Philippines and Japan have officially ratified an agreement, valued at PHP376 million, aimed at supporting road development and emergency response efforts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

This non-project grant aid (NPGA) from Japan was formalized through diplomatic notes signed by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko.

The signing occurred during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s two-day official visit to Manila and carries a total worth of JPY957 million (equivalent to approximately USD6.8 million or PHP376 million), according to the DFA.

The NPGA’s primary focus is to facilitate the acquisition of construction equipment for road network enhancement and efficient disaster response operations within the Bangsamoro region.

Its objectives encompass providing support for relief operations, including the restoration and maintenance of vital access roads, bridges, and waterways, as well as extending aid during times of calamities and disasters, as stated by the DFA.

Furthermore, it seeks to address the heightened impact of flooding exacerbated by climate change in the Bangsamoro region.

Notably, the NPGA stands as a grant mechanism designed to assist developing nations by offering foreign currency funding for the importation of goods incorporating Japanese technologies, addressing specific economic or social needs.

(ai/mnm)

Ni Liezelle Soriano

UMABOT sa 244 ang bilang ng mga karahasan na  naitala sa pagdaraos ng barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), ayon sa Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Ang datos na ito ng Comelec ay nagmula sa Philippine National Police (PNP).

Saklaw nito  ang huling araw ng Oktubre, ayon pa sa poll body.

Samantala, umabot naman sa 19 ang kabuuang bilang ng mga namatay sa kasagsagan ng eleksiyon.

“We hope this will be the end of it,” wika ni Comelec Spokesperson Rex Laudiangco.

“Though the figures are quite high, they are really low compared to the figures from the 2013 and 2018 barangay elections, where we had more than 300 election-related incidents and deaths,” dagdag pa niya.

Sinabi pa niya na karamihan sa  mga nasawi  ay nagmula sa Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Aniya, karamihan sa mga napatay ay mga tagasuporta o kamag-anak ng mga kandidato.

(AI/MNM)