Sajahatra Bangsamoro launch shows government's
sincerity and seriousness in forging a 'just and lasting' peace in Mindanao,
Malacanang says
The launch of the Sajahatra Bangsamoro, a
socio-economic initiative aimed at uplifting the health, education and livelihood
conditions of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) communitiese on Monday
shows the sincerity and seriousness of President Benigno S. Aquino III and the
government in “forging a just and lasting peace in Mindanao,” a Palace official
said on Sunday.
President Aquino will join representatives of
the government and the MILF for the historic launch that will be held at the
Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute compound in Sultan Kudarat town
in Maguindanao.
The ceremonial launch will include the
distribution of health insurance by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation
(PhilHealth); upgrading of community-based health services by the Department of
Health (DOH); college scholarships and technical-vocational training by the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA), respectively; educational assistance to madaris
(Islamic schools) and private schools by the Department of Education, needs
assessment of selected Bangsamoro communities; and Cash for Work Program,
through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, among others.
In an interview aired over government-run radio
station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
lauded both sides for working towards achieving the milestone.
“Yes,
what kind of message is the President sending? First, that we are serious about
forging a just and lasting peace in Mindanao; and even way ahead of the
signing, alam po natin that both panels are working on the annexes of the
Framework Agreement,” Valte said.
The Bangsamoro Framework Agreement, which was
signed last October 2012, will pave the way for the establishment of the new
autonomous political entity, the Bangsamoro, to replace the Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao.
Under the agreement, the Parties agree to
intensify development efforts for rehabilitation, reconstruction and
development of the Bangsamoro, and institute programs to address the needs of
MILF combatants, internally displaced persons and poverty-stricken communities.
“Even
before a peace agreement is signed, you will see that it’s about providing the
social services to the MILF and to the Moros in Mindanao because of the
Framework Agreement. It shows also the sincerity of both sides as a continuity
to talk and to finalize the annexes in the Framework Agreement,” Valte said.
PND (rck)
Palace says reports on Amalilio's extradition
from Malaysia 'inaccurate'
MALACANANG on Sunday clarified reports that the
extradition of investment scam leader Manuel Amalilio has already been rejected
by Malaysia as it assured that the government is working hard to bring him back
to the country.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte
said the Philippines is not giving up in making Amalilio accountable to his
victims in the country even if Malaysia insisted of holding the scam suspect
until he has served his two-year prison sentence for possession of fake
passport.
“There were some inaccurate reports in some of
the broadsheets today that the request for extradition was rejected,” Valte
said in an interview over government-run radio station Radyo ng Bayan.
“That’s inaccurate kasi, unang-una po, papunta
pa lang po ang state counsels ng DOJ (Department of Justice) to formally start
the extradition process,” she added.
The Palace official said the Philippines can
avail of the extradition process even if the country does not have an
extradition treaty with Malaysia.
“Kahit wala po tayong extradition treaty with
Malaysia, Malaysian law allows extradition under certain processes. Pupunta pa
lang po ang ating state counsels doon para simulan ang formal extradition
process,” she stressed.
Valte confirmed that Malaysian authorities have
frozen Amalilio’s assets as requested by the Philippines under the Association
of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.
Amalilio’s imprisonment in Malaysia was earlier
seen as a hindrance for him to face charges of syndicated estafa in a Pagadian
court as Kuala Lumpur considered him a Malaysian citizen contrary to the claims
of the Department of Justice that he is a Filipino.
The DOJ said Amalilio can be flown back to the
country even before the end of his two-year imprisonment.
A Malaysian attorney general, meanwhile,
reportedly assured that the Philippine authorities and prosecutors could access
Amalilio while in prison.
Amalilio, who is the owner of Aman Futures,
allegedly duped thousands of investors in the Visayas and Mindanao for an
amount of P12-billion.
He went into hiding last November after
President Aquino ordered his arrest.
He was then arrested in Malaysia in January but
was prevented by Malaysian authorities from boarding a Manila-bound plane
supposedly due to orders of Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman, who later admitted
that Amalilio was a “distant relative."
Amalilio was found guilty of possessing a fake
Philippine passport when he was arrested at the Kota Kinabalu International
Airport last January 25 and was subsequently sentenced to serve two years in
jail. PND (jb)
