Maguindanao massacre /Extortionists usingDOST school program

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

(Here is another statement on the Maguidanao massacre, this time by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines by Rev. Fr. Rex RB Reyes Jr. , general secretary and Bishop Nathaniel P. Lazaro, chairperson)

It is a massacre most foul, gross, and utterly repugnant!

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines joins the people in mourning. We reach out in prayer and solidarity to the families of the victims of the massacre in Maguindanao. The death toll of 46 people as of this writing, includes members of the media and two lawyers known for their human rights advocacy. We also reach out to the relatives of those missing.

May the Holy Comforter be with them. Yet even as we grieve and mourn, we are outraged. We are outraged that government has not acted with dispatch. Two days after news of the carnage broke out, the suspected mastermind has not been taken into custody. From day one, the spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines already identified the suspected mastermind – a known staunch ally of the President and undeniably a political warlord in Maguindanao.

We join the demand for the Government to take action but, we are appalled that a state of emergency has been declared in Maguindanao. For so long, Mindanao has been militarized and used to justify more military hardware and budget. What other more powers does the government need?

This massacre is a grim reminder of the pervading culture of impunity and the lack of respect for human rights that has been in our midst and that has turned for the worse since 2001. We are indignant of this continuing culture of impunity and the lack of political will of the government to stop these killings. What government has been doing is the swift perpetuation of injustice and the slow if not hollow dispensation of justice.

The gruesome massacre of unarmed civilians is also a painful reminder that government
statements to the dismantling of political warlordism have been mere rhetoric. Government has either turned a blind eye or entered into alliances with these warlords for political expediency at the expense of creating democratic space. Political warlordism is a manifestation of a feudal social order and we join the call that it should now be a thing of the past.

To our partners around the world, our deep gratitude for upholding us in your supplication and affirming our calls. We pray that peace and justice be given a chance in Mindanao and elsewhere in this country. We pray that all the resources that have been poured in Mindanao bail the people out from the mire of poverty, neglect and human indignity. We pray that we all rise from this blasphemy for the sake of the God who loves us all and calls us to be one people and for the sake of our children and the children yet unborn.
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The public is warned against a group claiming of having results of the national exam of the Department of Science and Technology scholarship program. This group is extorting money from applicant-examinees.

Cordillera DPST regional director Dr. Ben D. Ladilad said a parent of one of the examinees for the 2010 Science and Technology Undergraduate Scholarships (RA 7687 and Merit) held Nov. 15 nationwide complained to the regional DOST office at La Trinidad, Benguet after he was asked through a text message by an unknown individual saying he has to give money so his child’s papers could be processed.

The text message said his child passed the examination but some paper work and documentation were needed to be done for them to get the scholarship benefits. It also said results of the exam were with them.

The complainant, during the meeting with DOST officials said he was asked by the texter an initial amount of P800 as processing fee. Later the texter asked P500. Sensing he was being sweet talked, he reported the matter to the DOST, which in turn sought the assistance of the police. The matter is now being handled by police in coordination with DOST officials.

Ladilad urged the public particularly applicant-examinees of the scholarships and other beneficiaries of DOST-funded projects to be careful and not believe text messages coming from any source and they must confirm with the regional office first if the messages are true before shelling out their money.

He said results of the Nov. 15 examinations will be released April 2010 by the DOST Science Education Institute based in Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila and only those who passed the exam will receive such notices.

DOST worker John Santiago said copies of qualifiers will also be forwarded to DOST-Cordillera No fees are being collected. By then, examinees will have to wait for results. He asked victims of such extortion operations and scams to report immediately to police and to the DOST egional office so legal action could be pursued against them.

DOST-CAR regional office can be reached through the following numbers: (074) 422-2214 and (074) 422-0979.