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The Rats of April
By Grace S. Uddin
davaotoday.com
Published: Jan. 28, 2006
DAVAO CITY -- Davao in the month of April sizzled as terror scare, hunger strike, transport strike, an attempt on one journalist’s life, and walkouts at the City Council hogged the day.
Davaoeños barely able to recover from the jitters of the Valentine’s Day bombing, a group calling itself “Bag-ong Ilaga” distributed a “coming out “ video footage of their group to the local press, announcing that they were out to put justice into their own hands if only to prevent terrorism. The group also released a press statement signed by a certain “Kumander
Dapay” declaring its resentment against groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Moro National Liberation Front and Jemaah Islamiyah.
“Bag-ong Ilaga,” which literally means “new rat,” was a reference to the anti-Muslim Ilaga movement in the ‘70s that wrought havoc in Mindanao and damaged Christian-Muslim relations.
Meanwhile, the two suspected terrorists arrested earlier for the 2003 airport and wharf bombings and at the same time tagged as the brains behind the last year’s Valentine’s Day bombing were freed due to lack of evidence.
Two major strikes made it to the headlines this month. Amid the terror scare spreading in the city and the increasing killings of members of progressive groups and partylist groups, militant groups here staged a two-day hunger strike to end what they call “political repression” of the Arroyo administration. Mayor Rodrigo Duterte surprised the group on their last day of protest when he showed up bringing food and words of assurance on their safety.
The nationwide transport strike held in this month also earned wide support here. It was sort of a show of force for local transport groups here, whose members braved the heat of the sun in various chokepoints of the city all throughout the day just to ask for support from passing jeepney drivers.
Even as authorities had yet to solve the murder of journalist Marlene Esperat, another journalist from Kabacan, North Cotabato, survived an assassination attempt. After his blocktime radio program, “Magandang Gabi, Kabacan” over Radyo Natin, Albert Martinez, 48, was shot on his way home. Martinez was also a pastor of the Church of God.
Four city councilors became the “Walkout Kings,” namely Leo Avila, Jesus Zozobrado, Bonifacio Militar and Peter Laviña. The four walked out after their recommendation to suspend for 90 days barangay captain Arnold Maalat of Communal in Buhangin Dictrict was not favored by the majority of their colleagues.
Maalat was charged with abuse of authority after he allegedly mauled and poked a pistol at Arnold and Antonio Cayunda, both his constituents, last Sept. 26, 2003. "What's the use of staying in a committee with no more honor and dignity?” an irate Avila told members of the press.
Meanwhile, among the notable City Council resolutions that made it to the headlines for this month were the proposed increase in the wages of contractual workers at City Hall, the banning of “magic sugar,” the recommendation of the use of coco-diesel, and the investigation into the massive fishkill in Tugbok.
Councilor Pilar Braga proposed a resolution to ban magic sugar which is said to have been widely used by sidewalk vendors to sweeten the juice they sell. Braga said magic sugar, scientifically called sodium cyclamate, was prohibited by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) after it was found to have contained neotogen, a substance that was said to cause cancer in animals.
Meanwhile, Avila assured the people that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will take care of the investigation after a massive fishkill of catfish in Tugbok District.
In the incident, ten tons of catfish worth around one million pesos, were found floating dead in the farms of nine catfish raisers. The raisers blamed the banana plantations nearby for using pesticides that might have caused the fishkill.
Representatives of the Philippines Banana Growers and Exporters
Association (PBGEA) denied the allegations. PBGEA representative Dr. Anacleto Pedrosa said there were other rice farmers in the vicinity who were also using pesticides.
But a BFAR investigation concluded that toxic gases, lack of oxygen, and overfeeding triggered the fishkill, based on the water sampling and specimen analysis they conducted. (Grace S. Uddin/davaotoday.com)
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