Just when I was to start writing a feel-good story about Mindanao (the Canadian Embassy’s additional pledge of P40 million for the Mindanao Trust Fund), Leah Navarro’s email about the killing of Solema Jubilan, came in.
Jubilan was a human rights lawyer and congressional candidate for the second district of Cotabato. Inquirer.net’s breaking news said Jubilan was “accidentally shot by a policeman who was also her relative” at about 7:45 p.m. Saturday. She was brought to Kidapawan City hospital where she died.
The policeman, identified in the report only as “Moreno” is now in the custody of Kidapawan police.
It’s ironic that Jubilan died in an accidental shot from someone in charge of her security because the human rights lawyer was used to eating death threats for breakfast.
The online New Internationalist, dedicated to global justice, carries an article on Jubilan dated 1990. Excerpts from the article titled “Human-rights lawyers in danger”
“On 22 May this year staff at the office of human-rights lawyer Solema Jubilan in Kidapawan. North Cotabato province, reportedly received five anonymous death threats. Most of them threatened Solema Jubilan and her family with death and promised to blow up her office. One said: ‘If I were you, I’d leave right now. The place where you are standing will explode any minute.’
“The threats came shortly after the publication of an article on 12 May in the Mindanao Cross in which an unnamed military source alleged that the Children of the War Center run by Jubilan is a front for the fundraising activities of the Communist Party of the Philippines.
“Jubilan set up the Centre in 1989 to provide for children orphaned by war. The article quoted a source ‘based in Cotabato province’ as saying that ‘a cause-orientated group has been raising funds for the communist movement by exploiting children’. Workers at the orphanage say they have known for some time that they and the orphanage have been watched by the authorities.
“Amnesty International believes that these threats and the allegations may be intended to prevent Jubilan continuing with her work on behalf of the poor and under-privileged, with workers involved in strike action and especially with alleged or suspected opponents of the government. She has received threats on numerous occasions since 1986 when she found the message ‘It would be nice to kill you’ inscribed on her office door.”
Jubilan, was one of the candidates that the Black and White Movement endorsed in their Black List, White List.
Leah Navarro of the B&W movement said even if Jubilan is dead, “I suggest Sol’s name remain on our List in her memory.”
* * *
Now for the good news:
Last Thursday, Canadian ambassador Peter Sutherland announced his government’s additional pledge of one million Canadian dollars (P40 million) to Phase One of the Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF)
There was a signing of the administrative agreement on Canada’s donation at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City with Amb. Sutherland, Secretary Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the Peace Process, Mary Judd,World Bank Coordinator for Mindanao; and Danda Juanday of the Bangsa Moro Development Agency.
The P40 million assistance for the MTF, which is being made through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), is not the first for Canada. Last year, Canada made an initial contribution of P30 million during the launching of the MTF.
Ambassador Sutherland said poverty alleviation is the overriding concern of Canada about the Philippines. He said, “we see in Mindanao that peace and development are inextricably linked.”
“Our emphasis on governance, support to small business and conflict-affected areas reflect the importance we attach to these integral components of the government’s strategy for peace and development in Mindanao,” he said.
Judd described the MTF, which is administered by the World Bank, as an “innovation”, She said unlike other assistance that requires that a peace agreement first be in place, the donor countries expressed their confidence in the people of Mindanao even before the signing of a peace agreement.
Judd believes that the Fund contributed to the ceasefire on hostilities between government armed forces and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
She said Canada’s first contribution was a “voice of confidence.” The second is “a confirmation that it’s the right way to go.”
The Fund is currently providing resources for the capacity-building Bangsa Moro development Agency, the development arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, tasked with the responsibility of determining, leading, and managing relief, reconstruction and development projects in conflict affected areas in Mindanao.
The additional assistance from Canada will provide for more conflict affected areas to receive assistance and for new elements in the first phase, such as mainstreaming gender in peace-bu8ilding work, community-level emergency response, advocacy campaigns, and enhanced coordination with other projects in the conflict areas.
Sutherland was asked by journalist Carol Arguillas, if Canada does not get tired of helping Mindanao when progress seems so slow, the ambassador said, “Canada is in it for the long haul.”
Years ago, I suggested to a friend that I would like to join his crusade in his province, and do some sit-ins during the summer vacation there, even teach at his school even free of charge, but my friend thought it would be dangerous. He told me of the numerous threats he had received from even the military who should in fact be providing people doing good with protection and not mark anyone critical of the crooks in the government as being communists and leftists especially if they indeed have something worthwhile to contribute. He told me to forget it as he did not want to be answerable for me.
That really saddened me, but gave me the incentive to be more active in forums such as this and at the same time do what I can where I am based, even just to make our government be wary and careful of supplying ODA to a bogus government headed by a criminal.
My condolence goes not just to the family of Sol Jubilan but also to all those kids, et al who still need her help. I am not one of her acquaintances but I know several human rights lawyers there, one or two in fact are now six feet underground. God willing, her death will not be in vain.
What surprises me, is that the authorities is very quick to conclude the motives and causes of every politically related killing, before a complete and thourough investigation has been conducted. And so far has not resolve much of them. Like this current case of Rubema Jubilam, any knowledgeiable police authorities is not supposed to announce it was accidental or intentional, until they have reasonable evidence to support their pronouncements. What about if further discoveries point otherwise than accidental?
As for ambasssador Sutherland reply to reporter Carol Arguillas question that Canada is not getting tired of helping Mindanao despite slow progress, reflect the long standing policy of our Country, whether our commitment abroad or at home is always a commitment, all programs had been studied carefully and funds set aside and can only be suspended or stopped if desired results is not possible. Changing of Governments not necessarilly affect programs and commitments already in place. It is the long term vision that defines a great nation, we’re not there yet, but soon…
It’s sad indeed that concerned individuals like Jubilan perish. It’s gratifying to know, however, that something is being done to the Mindanao peace process by countries like Canada. My only problem thus far is that despite the tons of support that has poured into Mindanao, the problem of peace has remained but a promise. When will the conflict end? Financial support is good, but perhaps there is more to the conflict that requires a prudent handling. The peace talks between the MILF and the government began as early as 1998. It’s now 10 years in the make, but no solution is yet in sight.
read yesterday in inquirer re accidental death of solema jabilan and sad thing, indeed. there are those notorious parasites in the government who should succumb to a horrifying kind of death not the likes of solema who spent the years of her dear life in serving the people.
a prayer for her eternal reposal.
huwag sanang magkaroon ng access ito si judas dureza sa assistance na ito ng canada para sa development ng mindanao. ‘tanginang hayop na ‘yang katagal ng adviser daw ng peace process hanggang ngayon ay ganun pa rin at mas lalo pang lumalala.
please allow this one:
Sokor increases OFW deployment quota
04/30/2007
Contrary to reports that have circulated in the Internet that South Korea will limit the entry of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) yesterday said the host country has expressed its confidence in the country’s labor migration policy.
According to the DoLE, South Korea’s Ministry of Labor has increased its quota from 10,000 to 12,000 for the Philippines, making the country among the top providers of workers to South Korea, along with Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, which deploy labor to South Korea under the Employment Permit System. South Korea ranked 10th in the top destinations of OFWs in 2006.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/20070430nat3.html
siguradong tumutulo na naman ang laway ni gloria tomadora dahil sigurado na namang dagdag kuwarta ito at maipupuhunan pa niya sa kanyang mga kasinungalingang pagbibigay ng trabaho sa ilalim ng kanyang bulok na administrasyon!
nakakasuka!!!!
Mindanao was been helped not only by the Canadian, Japan. Germany, USA and other rich countries also did contribute their shares. That aid in poverty alleviation in Mindanao has been openly criticized because of countless instance in which funds either wasted on projects that did not help the people or failed to reach the people due to misuse by the recipient or went to the deep pocket of a person who is in charge of the project. But, most of those are in form of military aid, part of that weapon went to a corrupt hands, sold on blackmarket to the rebels, and our own soldiers in the military are often force to confront them in battlefield.
Cocoy:
tamang perspective sa kasaysayan ang isa sa mga solusyon ng problema sa Mindanao.
para na rin nating sinabi na si Lapu-lapu ay gusgusin na nainggit lamang kay Magallanes at nasilaw lamang sa armor na kasuotan nito.
Kagaya ng mga Indian sa North America, itinaboy lamang ng mga monarkiya ang mga europeans duon at nag-settle.
Paulit-ulit na mangyayari ang sinasabi mo kung walang masusing pag-aaral sa kasaysayan.
Japan is the highest donor of charity to the Philippines. We’ll see how our government will respond to call for stopping ODA to the Philippines by concerned Japanese taxpayers.
The Burot will be surprised to see a big demonstration in front of the Imperial Hotel over here when she comes that human rights group here plans to do.
At least, Japan is no Philippines where the military is used to quell freedom of speech and free assembly.
Nakakahiya talaga itong balasubas na mga kriminal na ito na ang hilig mamalimos sa ibang bansa. Pati ibang tao inaagawan ng trabaho. Don’t believe those lies by the puppets of the criminal.
The kind of jobs these crooks look for Filipinos are in fact jobs that the natives refuse to do because they are DIRTY, DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS. Better education and skills have made the natives choosier than the beggars these crooks are making of Filipinos. Remember “Beggars cannot be choosy!”
Sweden to join Mindanao international monitoring team
DAVAO CITY – The Swedish government has announced it will send a group to join the International Monitoring Team that looks into ceasefire compliance between the government and the Moro Islamic liberation Front(MILF), Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus G. Dureza said at the weekend.
From Business World , April 30,2007 , Monday page 10/S1
comment:
dapat ay magkaroon ng clear picture ang ASEAN agenda sa MINDANAO.
Rights group decries Burgos disappearance
By TJ Burgonio
Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — The Families of Desaparecidos for Justice decried on Monday the disappearance of Jonas Joseph Burgos in Quezon City last Saturday.
http://www.newsinfo.inquirer.net
Judgment day nears for Gloria
Man at the Market
Jesse E.L. Bacon II
CEBU CITY — The 45 million registered voters of this country will exercise 14 days from tomorrow their sovereign right to pass judgment on whether they approve of Mrs. Arroyo’s success in earning for the country the dishonorable title of being the most corrupt in all of Asia by rejecting wholesale all Malacañang-sponsored candidates or the other way around.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/business/20070430bus7.html
Sayang na sayang si Solema Jubilan, she died when the country needed her most!
Just sharing:
Posted are the scanned copies of the free P100,000 insurance cards and free cinema tickets bearing the name of GMA, JDV and Cong., Nograles and the Kalahi partylist (where his son Carlo is a nominee) were distributed recently at a free lunch meeting at Greenhills restaurant in Davao City.
Please vist http://www.arkibongbayan.org, or go to:
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/2007-04April30-votebuyingbynograles/votebuying.htm
Arkibong Bayan Web Team
Sa palagay ko parehong BAD NEWS iyan, Lalu na sa pagkamatay nang isang tao, at pangalawa kung ang pondong donation ng CIDA ay mapupunta lamang sa kamay ng mga Bwitri , magagamit pa nila iyang pondong iyan sa election…Peks man !!!!
Dapat pa rin iboto ng mga kababayan niya si Sol Jubilan and then have someone from her group to take her place in case she wins. Ganyan ang patakaran sa demokrasya since anyway she represents likewise her party and its platforms that people in her group believe in and can carry out. Dapat ang B&W na huwag alisin ang pangalan niya sa Do Vote list nila.
From Ramon Carag:
I express my deep sorrow over the violent death of Atty. Solema Jubilan of Kidapawan City. She was loss to the poor people not only of Kidapawan City but of other provinces outside of Cotabato province. She used to visit different places, ate the same food as the poor had to offer, and did all she could to help them get along on the little they had.
As a lawyer myself, I had the opportunity of her acquaitance when we were opposing counsels in one labor case in Cotabato City. She was uncompromising in her advocacy for the poor. We became good friends. She also had a good sense of humor that belied the seriousness with which she handled her opponents.
The poor really lost a champion. May she rest in peace!
Magno,
Re “According to the DoLE, South Korea’s Ministry of Labor has increased its quota from 10,000 to 12,000 for the Philippines, making the country among the top providers of workers to South Korea”
How very very Gloria! How so very backward.
Do you know that the forthcoming final round of the presidential election in France hinges on economics topped by LABOR, EMPLOYMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT?
Do you know that the current favorite of the election, Nicolas Sarkozy has made issues related to jobs and decreasing unemployment (or creation of employment) as one of the battlecries of his campaign?
That he had to admit the brain drain is causing havoc in France and that he promised to change all that?
It’s only in the Philippines where politicians, particularly the bogus president of the Republic who uses brain drain, the export of its citizens to cheap labor spots all over the world resulting in the continuing disintegration of the Filipino family unit as the pillars of her government policy…
Incredible! Total, absolute plonker of a “leader” this bansot is!
Anna,
What can you expect? Bobo nga e. Mahirap iyong mga taong trying hard to be a genius kono even at the expense of buying degrees for the display of diplomas on some walls, pero kamote pala! Golly, tignan mo naman ang industries na pino-promote ng ungas–human trafficking, human organ trafficking, prostitution under various guises, etc. Pwe! Nakakasuka!