By Froilan Gallardo

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 25 Feb) — It was a rousing act of remembering the 1986 People Power Revolution as hundreds of students poured out from Xavier University, urging passing vehicles to honk their horns to defend hard-earned freedom and liberties.

Many of the students were born after the 1986 uprising and only read them in books and learned from their classroom lectures, yet they believed that this was the event that won their hard-earned freedom.

“Silbato alang sa demokrasya! Panalipde ang kagawasan (Honk for democracy! Defend freedom,” yelled 18-year-old Albert Vinc Melodia to the vehicles passing Corrales Avenue in front of Xavier University here on Tuesday night.

“The struggle for good governance did not end with EDSA in 1986. This generation will continue the struggle,” Melodia later told MindaNews.

A little farther down the road, 19-year-old agriculture student Godwin Cabanatan, who was

carrying a placard that displayed a Martial Law battle cry (“Makibaka, huwag matakot!”), and his friends lit candles as they urged drivers to join their cause in defending the gains of the EDSA People Power Revolution of 1986, an event that happened 39 years ago long before they were born.

Cabanatan said he and his friends decided to join the rally so people can still remember the EDSA People Power Revolution and reject the attempts to revise history as being peddled by political vloggers and trolls.

“Truth and freedom should be defended by our generation,” he said.

The fervor of the students shouting slogans on top of their voices also moved reporters who were born after EDSA or were too young by then, and thus did not see the millions of people who joined the 1986 uprising.

“I had goose bumps seeing the students exhorting the passing vehicles to honk their horns. Maybe this is how it felt in 1986,” broadcast reporter Menzie Montes of RMN radio network said.

Xavier University marked the 39th anniversary of the People Power Revolution with a “Mass for Democracy” held at the Immaculate Conception Chapel and a “Rosary walk” around the campus.

At the university’s Magis Canteen, students and teachers held “Democracy Hour,” an interactive space that showcased music, poetry and art on EDSA.

Absent, however, were the yellow ribbons. Instead, white ribbons that supposedly symbolized political non-partisanship were tied to every tree in the Jesuit-run university.

In sharp contrast, the city government, which was the bulwark for defiance during the Martial Law years, was quiet on Tuesday.

Ian Fuentes, information officer of the city government, said Mayor Rolando Uy had not issued any directive for a commemoration, unlike in past years, especially in the 1990s, when the city observed EDSA Day with the same significance as Philippine Independence Day.

It is in this city that the late Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., founded the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), which later merged with Ninoy Aquino’s Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN) to form the anti-Marcos alliance PDP-LABAN.

“Now EDSA is beyond partisan engagement,” said Nestor Banuag Jr, XU’s advocacy officer.

Banuag said the legacy of the 1986 revolution now belongs to the Filipino people, not to any political party. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

By Ian Carl Espinosa

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 26 February) – An incumbent city councilor who is running in the third congressional district race here cried “political harassment” during a food distribution event conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Wilberto “Nonoy” Al-ag defended himself after he went viral on Facebook following a heated argument with Edwin Fiel, chairperson of Barangay Bantol in Marilog District, this city.

In the video, the two officials were seen arguing with Al-ag, speaking on a microphone, saying that they “must have mutual respect as they are elected officials.”

Al-ag threatened to leave the roadside, where they conducted the distribution, along with the food package from the DSWD during their altercation.

He said that Fiel’s move was “politically motivated.”

“If we belong to the same party, he will treat me well,” said Al-ag, who was removed from the Duterte-led Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (HTL) party.

He is challenging incumbent Rep. Isidro Ungab, a Duterte ally, in the May 2025 elections. Al-ag is running under the Lakas-Christian Democrats headed by House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Al-ag is the older brother of Councilor Bernard Al-ag, who is challenging Mayor Sebastian Duterte in the vice mayoralty race.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking the mayoralty post against former Civil Service Commission chair Karlo Nograles and several others. The Al-ags are supporting Nograles.

In a Bombo Radyo interview on Monday, Fiel said that Al-ag sent a letter stating that they will use the basketball court for the food distribution on February 8, but his team showed up 15 days later or on February 23.

Fiel said that Al-ag did not inform the barangay government ahead that they would conduct last Sunday the food distribution with the DSWD, which was conducted at the roadside that hampered traffic flow.

“Ang akoa ba, ingon sila nga respetoanay, pero nganong wala ko narespeto nga nagmonitor ra man ko sa traffic… Kabahin man na sa akong trabaho nga mahapsay ang akong barangay (They said we must respect each other. But why did they not respect me when I’m just monitoring the traffic. It’s part of my job to ensure order in our barangay),” Fiel said.

Fiel said that he was not against the DSWD food distribution during election season, which, according to him, must exclude politicians.

“Dili man ko mobalibad og assistance kay para man na sa katawhan, kwarta man na sa gobyerno (I will not disallow the assistance because that’s for the people, funded by government money),” Fiel added.

At the sidelines of the city council session on Tuesday, Al-ag told reporters that they only distributed 500 out of 1200 food packs due to Fiel’s  alleged harassment.

The councilor admitted that volunteering to help with DSWD’s food distribution is part of his political strategy, as he claimed that the agency “lacked personnel.”

“It’s election season … you must have a strategy to sell yourself so that people will vote for you,” he said in Cebuano.

He denied distributing money and admitted helping the DSWD by “providing food, water, vehicles, and other needs.”

“I also went there to be a guest speaker during the distribution,” Al-ag said.

The Commission on Elections has exempted DSWD’s various programs from election-related restrictions.

These include the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), Walang Gutom Program (WGP), and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), among others. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)

By Frencie Carreon

ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews / 27 February) – About 3,000 residents in the remote island-municipality of Mapun, Tawi-Tawi have availed of the medical and social services brought by the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM).

1^st Lt. Chester Ross Cabaltera, NFWM spokesperson, said the outreach program was part of the Philippine Navy’s mission to enhance maritime domain awareness among coastal communities, in a bid to gain their support in safeguarding national maritime security.

He said that the initiative aligns with the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) “Mulat” campaign, which seeks to strengthen public awareness and involvement in securing the West Philippine Sea and other vital maritime territories in the country.

Of the nearly 3,000 beneficiaries, 36 were circumcised, four underwent minor surgeries, 80 received dental services, 224 sought medical consultations, 439 availed eye check-ups, 121 benefited from barber services, 27 had their appliances repaired, 336 got free medicines, and 1,588 were recipients of gift-giving.

The Civil-Military Operations from the Sea (CMOFTS) in the island-municipality of Mapun, which is near Malaysia, was conducted last February 22 to 23.

The CMOFTS in Mapun municipality reaffirmed the military’s commitment to community engagement under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) commander, and Rear Admiral Francisco Tagamolila Jr., NFWM chief, Cabaltera said.

Lectures on maritime domain awareness were conducted by the Civil Military Operations Unit of WestMinCom. These discussions emphasized the importance of local communities in detecting and reporting maritime threats, particularly concerning illegal activities, intrusions, and environmental protection in Philippine waters.

Maj. Abdulwakil Tanjilil CHS (RES), deputy mufti for Palawan and Western Mindanao, led the public symposium on Preventing and Countering Radicalism and Violent Extremism.

The symposium aims to educate residents on the dangers of radicalization and empower communities to resist extremist influences.

The conduct of CMOFTS  in Mapun highlights the Philippine Navy’s ongoing commitment to maritime security, humanitarian service, and nation-building, Cabaltera said.

By integrating maritime domain awareness efforts with community engagement, NFWM continues to empower coastal residents, reinforce national security, and protect the country’s maritime interests, he said.  (Frencie L. Carreon / MindaNews)

By Ian Carl Espinosa

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 27 February) – The redistricting of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), due to the removal of Sulu from the region, could be done on or before the regional elections on October 13, an official said Thursday.

Mohd Asnin Pendatun, Bangsamoro government spokesperson, said the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) will amend Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 58, which allocates 80 seats for the Bangsamoro parliament.

“I think five months will be enough time for the amendment,” he said, pointing out that the Bangsamoro regional election was reset to allow the BTA to address the issue on district seat allocation.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr signed Republic Act 12123, which resets the Bangsamoro elections from May 12 to October 13 this year, last February 19, a development welcomed by the BARMM government.

Under BAA 58, the 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament shall be composed of 40 party representatives, 32 single-district representatives and eight sectoral representatives.

Sulu was allocated seven single-district seats until the Supreme Court, in a ruling in September 2024, excluded the province from the Bangsamoro region.

“The districting law needs to be amended … If we don’t amend the law, we will end up with a 73-member parliament which is not in congruence with what our law states,” Pendatun said.

He spoke with reporters at the sidelines of a dialogue involving regional political parties participating in the Bangsamoro elections. The event was organized by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, a United Kingdom body working to strengthen democracy around the world.

Pendatun said they will need another legislation to formalize the distribution of seven seats previously allocated to Sulu province.

In the Supreme Court ruling on September 9, 2024, Sulu was removed from BARMM because the province rejected the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in the 2019 plebiscite.

“It violates Article X, Section 18 of the Constitution, which states that only provinces, cities, and geographic areas voting favorably in the plebiscite shall be included in the autonomous region,” the SC said in its ruling.

On February 23, election watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) urged the BTA to immediately amend BAA 58.

It must ensure that the amendment process is “consultative, inclusive, and transparent through the public consultations that will be conducted” LENTE said.

Pendatun said the postponement of the BARMM parliamentary elections is advantageous “because national government resources and security will be focused solely in the October 13 Bangsamoro elections.”

“In five months, it would be hopefully enough to re-appropriate the seven parliamentary districts (allocated to Sulu), address the security concerns and other preparations, and increase the level of awareness of our countrymen in the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections,” Pendatun said. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)

MANILA – Easterlies and the northeast monsoon or “amihan” will bring cloudy skies and isolated rains over parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Sunday.

In its 4 a.m. bulletin, the weather bureau said Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Davao Region will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to easterlies.

Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains caused by “amihan.”

Due to easterlies, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will also experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA warned that flash floods or landslides may occur because of “moderate to at times” heavy rains and during “severe thunderstorms.”

It added that the eastern section of Visayas and Mindanao will experience moderate to rough seas due to mild to strong east to northeast winds.

The temperature for the day will range between 21.8°C and 31.3°C. (PNA)

By Jose Cielito Reganit

MANILA – The shear line and the northeast monsoon or “amihan” will bring cloudy skies and rains in some areas of the country, the weather bureau said Saturday.

In its 4 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms will prevail over Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and Davao Region due to the shear line.

Flash floods or landslides may occur in these areas due to moderate to at times heavy rains, PAGASA warned.

Meanwhile, cloudy skies with light rains are forecast over Cagayan Valley, Aurora, and Quezon due to the northeast monsoon.

The northeast monsoon will likewise bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains over Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas will be felt over the eastern section of the Visayas and Mindanao, while the rest of the archipelago will experience light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas, PAGASA said. (PNA)

By Edwin Fernandez

COTABATO CITY – Bangsamoro Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulrauf Guialani will lead the official moonsighting on Friday to determine the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Guialani, the sole authority to declare the sighting of the crescent moon, will announce the results at around 7:30 p.m.

Other Islamic preachers will join the moonsighting in key areas across the country, including Marawi City, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga, Davao, General Santos City, Metro Manila, Cebu, Baguio, and Palawan.

The moonsighting is governed by the Bangsamoro Darul Ifta, the Islamic council overseeing religious events in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“Prepare your hearts and minds for Ramadan,” Guialani advised Muslims in the region and across the Philippines. “May we be blessed with a month filled with spiritual growth, patience, and immense rewards.”

If the crescent moon is sighted between 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Ramadan will begin on Saturday. Otherwise, fasting will officially start on Sunday.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is a sacred period of fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection observed by Muslims worldwide. During this month, adult Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs from sunrise to sunset.

The month-long observance emphasizes self-discipline, worship, and acts of kindness, with many Bangsamoro communities dedicating more time to prayer and Qur’an recitation.

This year, Ramadan is expected to culminate in Eid al-Fitr, which will fall on March 30 or 31, depending on the moonsighting results. (PNA)

By Ian Carl Espinosa

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 26 February) — At least three armed men perpetrated a daring broad daylight robbery of a pawnshop in this city Wednesday morning, February 26.

Col. Hansel Marantan, Davao City Police Office director, said they captured a suspect and launched hot pursuit operations against several others involved in the robbery of Hannah’s Pawnshop and Jewelry along Ilustre Street in downtown Davao.

Images that spread on social media showed three gunmen carrying out the robbery and escaping aboard a motorcycle.

“We are not even sure how many more suspects are there, we are still reviewing CCTVs. But I think it should be more than four or five,” Marantan said Wednesday afternoon in a live stream by local media NewsFort.

Citing initial investigation, DCPO spokesperson Captain Hazel Caballero Tuazon said Wednesday morning that there are three confirmed suspects, but “there could be more as they might have lookouts.”

The police arrested one of the suspects identified as Jonny Bulawan, a resident of Albuera, Leyte, who was caught at the Bankerohan Public Market.

Members of the San Pedro Police Station recovered an M-16 rifle, a 9 mm pistol, bullets, a defective motorcycle, and jewelries taken from the pawnshop valued at “P40 million to P100 million.”

Marantan said the group behind the robbery could be a “big, organized organization.”

He vowed to bring the other suspects behind bars.

The DCPO called on the public to provide leads or information about the suspects and their whereabouts through hotline numbers 0998 598 7054, 0916 659 2576, and 082-227-5777. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)

By Ferdinandh B. Cabrera

NABALAWAG, SGA-BARMM (MindaNews / 25 Feb) — To celebrate the sixth anniversary of the establishment of the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (SGA-BARMM), its eight municipalities are holding a festival, each focusing on different events.

Organizers said the milestone reflects a significant step toward self-governance and development since its establishment from the 63 barangays from Cotabato province that opted to join the Bangsamoro region during the 2019 plebiscite.

“This is the fruit of the Bangsamoro struggle,” declared SGA Administrator Butch Malang. “We see the unwavering support of our BARMM government, and it is only fitting that we express our gratitude and celebrate these victories,” he added.

A vibrant tapestry of celebration has started to unfold across the SGA starting on Monday, Feb. 24, until the 28th.

From a fluvial parade to essential social services, traditional Moro games, religious and cultural showcase, “the anniversary has marked a testament to the resilience and unity of the SGA’s people,” Malang said.

The celebration kicked off in this municipality with a motorcade and flag-raising ceremony, setting the stage for a week of diverse activities. 

These were followed with medical and dental missions, free circumcision drives, and a job fair.

Next came cultural presentations and Islamic contests like Qur’an memorization and Muhadarah (sermon) competition.

Since the SGA has eight municipalities dispersed across Cotabato province, each town is hosting different activities.

The socio-cultural contests and sports activities like basketball and volleyball are being held in Malidegao and Ligawasan municipalities.

The Palarong Bangsamoro—which include games like bangkarera, boat rowing, luksong tinik, kadang-kadang, patintero, and tug-of-war—is hosted by Pahamuddin.

Academic competitions like quiz bee, debate, talumpati, slogan making, extemporaneous speech, spelling bee, essay writing, photography and video making are being held in Kapalawan.

Masterclass trainings for developing human resources—which include leadership and youth empowerment, business and technical writing, health and education, bayok and kulintang, and MSME entrepreneurship training—are being held in Old Kaabakan. 

The culmination activity will be held in Kadayangan with a grand kanduli “boodle fight.” 

Highlight of the closing event is the Gawad Parangal for individuals, leaders, workers and other stakeholders who contributed significant legacy to the development and establishment of the SGA to be held in at Shariff Kabunsuan complex in Cotabato City on Feb. 28, which will followed by a moon watching for the start of the observance of the Ramadhan. (Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews)