Dimaporos reign over Lanao Norte

By Violeta M. Gloria/MindaNews

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/13 May) — It’s all Dimaporos — mother, son and daughter — who took the highest elective posts in Lanao del Norte.

Reelected governor is Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo. Representative of the first district is his mother, Imelda Q. Dimaporo, who once served as governor. Representative of the second district is Khalid’s sister Fatima Aliah.

Khalid was proclaimed winner by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, while Aliah was declared winner around 6:45 p.m. today. Imelda was declared much earlier.

Comelec bared that Khalid, who won his second term, gathered 179,402 votes; the far second is Alijandro Batalo with 17,755 votes.

Fatima Aliah will succeed her father Abdullah, now on his third and last term, as representative of the second district.

Imelda ran and lost against Vicente “Varf” Belmonte in the 2007 elections when Iligan City was still part of the first district of Lanao del Norte, but starting this year, Iligan is now a separate district. [More at MindaNews]

Imelda Dimaporo proclaimed as 1st district Lanao Norte rep

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/12 May)— The Commission on Elections in Lanao del Norte proclaimed Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo as winner in the congressional race in the first district at 6 p.m. May 11.

Proclaimed board members were Giselle Matalines, Casimero Bagol, Baldomero Zamora, Alexander Ali and Mohammad Maruhom.

Irma Rosales, assistant to provincial election officer Irma Rosales said that as of 8 p.m. today, 15 towns have already transmitted results of election turn-outs, but they are still waiting for the transportation of results from eight towns.

The towns that have been canvassed are Baloi, Bacolod, Baroy, Kapatagan, Kolambugan, Lala, Linamon, Magsaysay, Maigo, Matungao, Pantar, Sapad, Tagoloan and Tubod.

The towns of Munai, Pantaoragat, Salvador, Poona Piagapo, Nunungan, Tangkal and Sultan Naga Dimaporo have not reported election results yet. [More at MindaNews]

PPCRV: Lanao Norte polls generally peaceful

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/11 May) – The conduct of elections in Lanao del Norte can be considered generally peaceful despite delay in the transmission of results from 11 hinterland towns, Fr.Rey Pati-an, provincial head of the Pastoral Parish Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said.

Pati-an gave credit to the voters for reportedly behaving well.

He also attributed the peaceful election to the separation of Iligan City as a lone district, saying politicians in Lanao Norte disdain being ruled by officials coming from the city.

He said there were hitches, however, like the threats against the Board of Election Inspectors in Kapatagan town, the attempted use of flying voters in Tangkal town and the delay in the canvassing of results. [More at MindaNews]

Also posted at Vera Files.

2 killed, 1 injured in Lanao Sur voting

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/10 May) — Two persons lining up to vote at the Tugaya Central Elementary School, ended up dead while another one was wounded when a man identified as Albert Balindong strafed them at around 10:45 a.m., Major Ferdinand Cacas, head of the Philippine Army’s 103rd Brigade Election Monitoring and Action Center, said.

Cacas added that the attack was apparently intended to disrupt the balloting process.

Voting in the area was immediately stopped but it proceeded as scheduled in other precincts. Authorities have yet to identify the victims.

Improvised bombs exploded near the gymnasium of the Mindanao State University campus in Marawi City, another explosion happened when a black Isuzu highlander blew up near an elementary school where people were voting and another improvised bomb exploded at an unpopulated corner in Barangay Saduc, but no one was injured, reports from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the Citizens Coalition for ARMM Responsible Election (Citizens CARE) said. [More at MindaNews]. Story is also posted at Vera Files.

PPCRV fields 1,000 monitors in Lanao Norte

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte (MindaNews)– At least 1,000 church-based volunteers have been fielded by the provincial Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in the coastal municipalities of Lanao del Norte to observe and document precinct-based cases in the first-ever conduct of automated national polls.

Fr. Rey Pati-an, head of the provincial Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting in Lanao del Norte, said that these trained volunteers will be roaming around precincts in coastal communities only as they had difficulties to organize persons who can be fielded in hinterland communities.

Pati-an related that so far there are no incidents reported from municipal-based councils that can be considered life-threatening except for unverified reports about flying voters brought to the hinterlands that were barred by authorities and the delay of the distribution of PCOS flash cards.

“If the poll will prove that these gadgets will malfunction, the watchers are encouraged to report cases to board of election inspectors for expedient action,” he said.

Acknowledging limitations, “volunteers are vulnerable to threats and intimidations if they are assigned in areas where they have no particular knowledge of the terrain and if they aren’t equipped to undergo electoral challenges in high-risk situation,” he said.

Besides, I am not sure if the total gun ban policy is fully enforced specially in remote barangays,” he commented. [More at MindaNews]

Heightened alert in Lanao Norte as fears of poll violence rise

Date Published: May 7, 2010

By VIOLETA M. GLORIA
MindaNews

Pantao Ragat mayor Eleanor Lantud

ILIGAN CITY.—Everyone is on heightened alert in Lanao del Norte, where a longstanding political dispute involving the warlord Dimaporo clan has come to a head in recent months.

The flashpoint is Pantao Ragat, a fifth-class town an hour and a half from here and bordering Lanao del Sur. Pantao Ragat is ruled by the husband-and-wife team of Lacson and Eleanor Lantud, whom the Dimaporos have been trying to unseat.

Pantao Ragat Mayor Eleanor Dimaporo Lantud is a first cousin of Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo and niece of Mindanao’s original warlord, the late Muhammad Ali Dimaporo.

She became mayor in 2007, replacing her husband who slid to vice mayor after serving three terms. On his mother’s side, Lacson is related to Abdullah Mangotara, a gubernatorial rival of Dimaporo in the 1990s.

Efforts to reconcile the Lantuds with the Dimaporos have proved futile, even if Eleanor is a blood relative. Their rivalry has lasted two decades, as a result of which Pantao Ragat is today the only town in Lanao not ruled by a Dimaporo ally. All 21 other towns in the province are controlled by Dimaporo’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD partymates. The Lantuds are affiliated with the Liberal Party.

Last March, an armed group identified with a rival mayoral candidate went to Pantao Ragat to meet with another group that has a standing political rido (feud) with the Lantud family.

Continue at Vera Files.

Also posted in MindaNews, Newsbreak, Manila Times, Iligan city, Malaya, Dateline, AllVoices, PositiveUniverse as well as in the blog of Ellen Tordesillas

2 Lanao Norte towns might be placed under Comelec control

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/27 April) — Two towns in Lanao del Norte might be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections in view of violent incidents between contending parties, Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo of the province’s second district said.

Dimaporo, speaking in the program Balitang Panlalawigan over radio station dxLS on Monday, was referring to the towns of Pantaoragat and Matungao.

But he also said the problem would not be solved if the police and military in these areas are supporting any candidate.

[More at MindaNews]

Also found at Vera Files and was also posted at Iligan City.

Environmentalists climb Inayawan

ILIGAN CITY(MindaNews)-- After successfully making a 350 formation to campaign for reduction of carbon dioxide emission and to push for disaster risk reduction last month, environmentalists here will join the1st Kapanakdug sa Palao at Mount Inayawan Range Natural Park in Nunungan, Lanao del Norte on December 16 to 18. Kapanakdug sa Palao in Maranao literally means "mountain trekking.”

Mark Cervantes, project officer on Disaster Risk Reduction of Ecoweb Inc, explains that this mount trekking aims to " highlight the biodiversity and socio-cultural signifance of Mt. Inayawan as a natural park and protected area; to introduce Mt. Inayawan Range Natural Park as a potential destination for environmental awareness, outdoor sport and ecotoursim zone in Lanao del Norte; to emphasize Islamic environmental stewardship and governance in the three-day trek; and to surface biodiversity and socio-cultural issues during the trek and recommend solutions."

The three-day event will be integrating environmental education, outdoor adventure, community interaction and Islamic environmental stewardness. [More at MindaNews]

2 killed in Tagoloan, Lanao Norte strafing

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/April 26, 2009)--- Two persons were killed when some 40 unidentified armed men strafed residents in Sitio Palianon, Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte Saturday.

The strafing happened near the sawmill owned by Tano Capangpangan and the water source of National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Major Efren Morados, executive officer of 104rth Infantry Brigade, said.

Killed were Elmer Lambay, 21 and Demicillo Ponce Dayday, 18.

Morados said the armed men took Agustina Ponce Lambay, 25 and Badat Ardines, 14 as human shields while they withdrew towards Barangay Malimbato. [More at MindaNews]

Civilians flee Munai, Madalum again

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/21 March) – An undetermined number of Maranao civilians returned back to evacuation centers to avoid getting caught in a crossfire between government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) forces in the boundary of Munai, Lanao del Norte and Madalum in Lanao del Sur.
Adona Orquillas, executive director of Ranaw Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Action Center (RDRRAC) told MindaNew they will revisit the evacuation centers in Munai town to document their situation..

"It’s disheartening to note that our early recovery program for the evacuees after the August 18 attack will be thrown to waste because conflict hasn't come to its final end yet," Orquillas commented.

Orquillas said two MILF members were reported killed while one soldier was wounded.

Lt. Col. Juvymax Uy, commanding officer of 43rd Infantry Battalion, told MindaNews "my soldier was wounded. He was hit on the butt after saving a farmer. [More at MindaNews]

Col. Benito De Leon of 104rth IB: Celebrating his 49th Birthday

March 21 this year is the 49th Birthday of Col. Benito de Leon of 104rth Infantry Brigade.

This day was also the day when former president Joseph Estrada declared an ‘all out war ‘ against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front after a land conflict over 24-hectares ended into a siege of Kauswgan town led by MILF commander Abduallah Macapaar alias Bravo.

It is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 285 days remaining until the end of the year. In astrology, the day of the Equinox is the first full day of the sign of Aries. It is also the traditional first day of the astrological year.

Although of different years, Col De Leon has similar birth date with Johann Sebastian Bach, German composer; Benito Juárez, Mexican statesman and national hero; Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, Russian composer; Heinz "Pritzl" Bär, German fighter pilot; Charmaine Dragun, Australian news anchor; Mandy Capristo, German Singer (Monrose).

March 21 is also Naw-Rúz –a Holy day for adherents of the Bahá'í Faith and first day of the Bahá'í calendar. Under Bahá'í calendar it is first day of the first month, the month of Splendor.

March 21 is also Independence Day of Namibia; Harmony day of Australia; Truant’s Day of Poland; Human Rights day of South Africa. In Mexico, it’s Benito Juarez Day, a Fiesta Patria. It’s the third day of Quinquatria in Ancient Rome held in honor of Minerva.

March 21 is also World Poetry Day and the much advocated International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination of the United Nations. But in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen its their Mother’s Day.

There were some quotations on this day, such as:

Friday, March 21, 2003-Quote: "If you have to ask, it's not Shock & Awe" -- the Pentagon on opening stage of attack

Sunday, March 21, 2004- Quote: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monday, March 21, 2005- Quote: "I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface." -- Stephen Sondheim

Tuesday, March 21, 2006-Quote: "Alcatraz, the federal prison with a name like the blare of a trombone, (is) a black molar in the jawbone of the nation's prison system." – Thomas E. Gaddis, Birdman of Alcatraz

This day, Col. De Leon sang "What a Wonderful World" with peace advocates who were on a conference at MCC of Lanao del Norte. He listened to his soldiers who serenaded him at 4 a.m. and to songs "Imagine" and "Birthday song" at 3 p.m. He also sang "Refrain" of Jose Marie Chan at night during his birthday celebration at the brigade with guests. He celebrated his birthday with others birthdays: that of Capt. Alonto Maamo, Lt. Col. Jerry Barrientos and those soldiers not named but have blown their candles too.

March 21 is also the birthday of my father who already passed away from this earth and has returned to God’s home. I was in my 3rd year of law when he ended his vacation on earth.
My father's first name is Victorino but everyone also called him "Ben."

PHILIPPINES: Catholic groups help Muslim communities rebuild lives

POONA PIAGAPO, Philippines (UCAN) -- The sound of gongs reverberated in the air as indigenous Maranao people celebrated improvements in their lives, thanks to Catholic organizations.

During the March 16 kanduri feast in Poona Piagapo in the southern Lanao del Norte province, Muslim youths danced with fans and malong (yards of colorful fabric), while children and elders watched smiling under a colorful tent.

The indigenous festival was held with four other villages in thanksgiving for improvements in the villagers' lives brought by projects supported by Caritas Australia and Catholic Fund for Overseas Development (CAFOD).

"We are thankful to Allah" and to these groups, village officer Linang Aguam said. He added that "knowing that there are institutions that could help us" is encouraging. [More at UCAN]

Yellow Revolution.

Today, I am celebrating democracy... the restoration of democracy.
I celebrated it with a boodle fight, ironically a supposed fight over food. Those who can grab and eat food fast are probably starved (will burp) and those who ate slow, are probably having indigestion or are suffering toothache. Hehehe.
Today, I am in yellow.
I am reminiscing Benigno Aquino Jr., husband of the former president of this republic and father of the most popular and witty Kris.
I do not know him personally but I know him through books. I know how his family and this nation struggled 'for justice because of his assassination.' But, I'd like to celebrate more how his death became the bulwark of peoples' inspiration to work hard for the restoration of democracy from the tyranny of political decadence and martial rule. He is the icon of Edsa Revolution (1986). He has become the essence of democracy, the heart of our freedom.
Today, my celebration is a celebration with a crowd who graduated from a 3-day course on security management as the current full pledged "civilian volunteer organization (CVO)" of Kolambugan town in Lanao del Norte.
This they do to protect their community from attacks of armed groups and to prepare themselves for disastrous eventualities (knocks on the wood.)
I am in yellow.
And, I am wishing well that Filipinos still remember Ninoy and Edsa Revolution too.

NGO distributes bancas, farm tools to residents of conflict areas in Lanao Norte

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