Anak Mindanao Party List, through the office of Representative Mujiv S. Hataman awarded College Scholarship grants to at least 100 students of the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU- IIT) amounting to a total of P500,000.00.

            The awarding of Certificates was held last January 27, 2009 at the Ampi-Theatre, College of Education, MSU-IIT with all the hundred scholars in attendance. Ms. Jasmin Teodoro, National Coordinator of the Serbisyong Alay nAMIN program awarded the certificates in behalf of Rep. Mujiv Hataman. She also gave an orientation on other benefits and privileges of being an AMIN scholar.

            Ms. Genevieve D. Denegrado, representing MSU-IIT Chancellor Marcelo Salazar received the Scholarship Certificates. Also present were Vice Chancellor Barry Olaer, Ms. Rubielyn B. Bartolata of the Univerity Admission Office.  

            More recently, another awarding of AMIN Scholarship Certificates was held at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) in Zamboanga City. The second batch of WMSU AMIN scholars consisted of 150 students from different Colleges in the University.

            Held last February 18, 2009 at the WMSU Social Hall, Ms. Teodoro and AMIN National Council President, Prof. Mahmor Edding awarded the Certificate of Scholarship while Prof. Claro Potenciano, WMSU Vice President for Planning, Administration and Finance received them together with Dr. Edna C. Fernandez, WMSU Scholarship Coordinator.

Anak Mindanao is said to have the most number of Scholars in WMSU.

Other scholars from the Ateneo De Zamboanga, Pilar College, Universidad De Zamboanga, Brent College, School of Arts and Trade and from Basilan State College and Claret College of Isabela were also awarded with Scholarship Certificates.

This scholarship grants are under the “EDUKASYON NIYO, SAGOT nAMIN” component of the Serbisyong Alay nAMIN program of AMIN Representative Mujiv Hataman.

To date, AMIN has a total of 564 scholars from different colleges and universities around the country. This does not include the TESDA SCHOLARSHIP grants worth Php 3M allocated by Rep. Hataman for TESDA educational programs.

AMIN already produced almost 200 graduates in its  six years in Congress.

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi taala wabarakatuh

Today, honorable members of this house, I rise to confirm that the nightmare that we long feared has come. Today, no amount of apathy, can erase the fact that no one, not even the most unfortunate among us, especially among our constituents, can escape the fear of being abducted in exchange for a ransom demand. We can no longer continue closing our eyes to the reality that the crimes of Kidnap For Ransom are no longer isolated cases which happen every once in a while, and only to those who are considered rich.

Not even the kidnapping of a media icon, Ms. Ces Orena Drilon in June of 2008 prepared us for what lied ahead. Ces Drilon, together with her cameramen Jimmy Encarnacion and Angelo Valderama accompanied by Prof. Octavio Dinampo of the Mindanao Peoples’ Caucus went to the jungles of Sulu to get an exclusive interview with a rebel leader but was kidnapped in Maimbung on June 8, 2008. The ransom demand was reported to be 20 Million pesos.

Sinubaybayan ng sambayanan ang insidenteng ito hanggang sa tuluyang napalaya sina Ces at ang kanyang mga kasama. But there were other kidnapping incidents, before and after Ces Drilon.

Earlier, on January 2008, Father Rey Roda, OMI, was abducted in Tawi-Tawi. Father Roda, was the Director of the Notre Dame of Tabawan in Tawi-Tawi. On the evening of January 15, armed men barged into the chapel where Father Roda was praying purposely to abduct him. He struggled and resisted saying that he preferred to be killed right there and then. Witnesses said the armed men tortured him and then shot him to death before leaving, taking with them Omar Taup, a teacher of the Notre Dame.

Noong September 15, 2008, muli na naman tayong nagulantang sa balitang kidnapping nang mga NGO workers sa Basilan. Sina Esperencita “Espie” Hupida, Program Director ng Nagdilaab Foundation, Inc. at si Millet Mendoza, isa ring kilalang aid worker na sa loob ng mahabang panahon ay labas-masok sa kagubatan ng Sulu at Basilan dahil sa mga serbisyo at proyekto nila sa mga nasabing probinsiya. Humingi ng 7M na ransom ang mga kidnappers para kay Mendoza at ayon sa mga news reports, nagbigay naman ang pamilya ni Hupida ng 2M bago ito pinalaya.

Sa isang forum na inilunsad ng mga kapamilya ng KFR victims mula Mindanao noong November 4, 2008, sa pangunguna ni Ms. Merli Mendoza, kapatid ng nakidnap na si Millet, lumabas sa kanilang pag-aaral na sa loob ng labing isang buwan, mula Enero hanggang Nobyembre ng taong 2008, in the ZAMBASULTA (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) area alone, may 33 KFR cases nang naitala, at may estimated na halos P50 Million na ransom ang naibayad sa mga KFR groups.

Maliban sa mga high profile na kidnapping incidents, may mga insidenteng hindi na nailalathala at hindi dumarating sa atensiyon ng madla.

Noong June 26, 2008, limang empleyado ng Basilan Electric Cooperative ang na kidnap sa Tuburan, Basilan. Sina Albert Singson, Emmilberto Singson, Paul Herowig, Birin Herowig at Ronnie Tansiung ay dinukot ng mga armadong kalalakihan habang nagbabasa ng metro ng kuryente sa nasabing lugar.

July 13, 2008, dalawang barangay officials ng Lantawan ang kinidnap at pinakawalan matapos magbigay ng “Board and Lodging fees” na nagkakahalaga ng P500,000.00, samantalang isang Mr. Bautista, isang businessman sa Zamboanga ang dinukot din at dinala sa Basilan, pinakawalan matapos magbayad ng ransom.

July 20, 2008 isang owner-driver ng pang pasaherong jeep na si Mr. Ronnie Ando, kasama ang kanyang pasaherong si Vilma Sumergido at anak nito ang na kidnap sa Lamitan, Basilan.

November 26, 2008, alas siyete ng gabi, si Nicole Rabeche, siyam na taong batang babae, anak ng isang Filipino seaman, ay hinablot mula sa kanyang inang tinutukan ng baril, malapit sa kanilang bahay sa Lamitan, Basilan.

December 12, 2008, principal ng Kutah Sairap Elementary School, ang dinukot sa Parang Sulu.

December 14, 2008, a 22 year old Chinese-Filipino businessman, Peter Go, was kidnapped at around 7:45 am in Jolo, Sulu. Go is still in captivity to this day.

January 8, 2009, Mr. Eliseo Hablo, 45 years old, owner of Julies Bakeshop, was kidnapped in Zamboanga City.

January 15, 2009, ICRC members Andreas Notter, Eugenio Vagni and Mary Jean Lacaba were kidnapped in Sulu.

January 23, 2009, Freires Quizon, Janette delos Reyes and Rafael Mayorada, all of whom are teachers, were kidnapped on board a motor boat off the shores of Zamboanga City. According to news reports, ransom demand is 6 million pesos.

January 28, si Elizar Gomera, isang midwife na empleyado ng Lamitan local government ang pumunta sa Barangay Parangbasak sa nasabing siyudad upang tumulong sa panganganak ng isang residente doon. Hindi na siya nakauwi sa kanilang bahay. Inabangan siya ng mga kidnappers at hanggang ngayon ay bihag pa nila. May lumabas na balita kani-kanila lang na ito raw po ay nakatakas, we are still trying to confirm this report.

February 1, 2009, si Chester Gruta, siyam na taong batang lalaki, na bumili lang ng suka sa tindahan malapit sa kanilang bahay sa Lamitan, ang dinukot ng mga lalaking nakasakay sa motorsiklo.

February 2, 2009, si Diokhing Que, 60, may-ari ng isang maliit na grocery sa Jolo ay dinukot ng mga armadong lalaki habang pauwi siya sa kanilang bahay sa Kakuyagan, Jolo, Sulu.

February 3, 2009, dalawang staff ng Kasanyangan Foundation, Inc. isang NGO na nakabase sa Zamboanga City, ang na kidnap sa Sumisip, Basilan kung saan sila assigned.

Mga kasama, hindi po ito isang bangungot. Ito po ay isang mapait at nakakatakot na realidad na kailangan nating harapin NGAYON. Hindi po ito isang multo na umaanino lamang, kundi isang buhay na kalaban na ninanakaw at winawalay sa atin ang ating mga anak, magulang, kapatid, kaibigan, at mga mahal sa buhay, kapalit ng halagang karamihan sa atin ay walang kakayahang maibigay.

Para sa mga naging biktima at sa kanilang mga pamilya, kailanman ay hindi na mabubura ang sakit at takot ng mawalay sa mga mahal sa buhay, ang sa bawat araw ay pinangangambahan ang kamatayan, habang ang mga naiwan ay halos ibenta pati ang kaluluwa maipon lang ang hinihinging halaga.

Para sa ating lahat, lalo na sa katulad naming ang mga pamilya ay nasa Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu at Tawi-Tawi, ito ay isang salot na kumikitil sa ating kalayaan. Ang kalayaang lumabas ng ating mga tahanan, ang kalayang mamuhay ng walang takot at pangamba, ang kalayaang mamuhay ng payapa.

We can no longer hide behind the excuse that all these are perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf or put the blame on any other group. Kahit po sa kasagsagan ng Abu Sayyaf noong 1990s hanggang unang bahagi ng 2000, hindi po umabot sa ganito ang sitwasyon. Hindi pa nangyayari kailanman na halos araw araw ay may biktima ng kidnapping. Para lamang silang namamasyal sa ating mga komunidad at hahablot ng kung sinumang kanilang makursunadahan.

Which brings us to the question: ano po ang ginagawa ng ating kapulisan? Nang ating mga lokal na pamahalaan? Ang mga kidnapping po ay hindi nagaganap sa mga liblib na lugar o sa kabundukan, kundi sa gitna mismo ng ating mga siyudad, sa mga palengke, sa mga kabahayan.

Nais ko po sanang marinig ang panig ng local government units, lalong lalo na nang Philippine National Police. Nasaan po ba sila at hindi nila mapigilan ang mga insidenteng ito? Sino po ba ang kanilang binabantayan, ang mga mamamayan o mayroon silang ibang pinag kaka-abalahan? Kaninong kapakanan po ba ang nangunguna sa kanilang mandato, ang mga ordinaryong sibilyan o ang mga pulitikong may sariling mga interest?

Katulad na lamang po ng balitang dumating sa inyong lingkod. Noong February 4, 2009 ay may nahuling Abu Sayyaf sa Basilan, ang pagkaka alam ko po ay ito ang kasama ni Alghozi na tumakas mula sa Camp Crame. Nahuli po ito sa Isabela, Basilan ngunit ayon sa mga saksi, may isang pulis na kinilalang si PO1 Osama Ismael na pumigil sa pag aresto nito. Habang nakikipag argumento ito sa mga kapwa pulis na nang huli, biglang nang hablot ang suspek ng Granada at sa puntong ito ay may dumating na police car, at isinakay ang suspek papalayo. Ayon sa City Police ng Isabela, ang nasabing police car na nagsakay sa suspek ay may nakasulat na Ungkaya Pukan Municipality at ang driver nito ay nakilalang si SPO2 Tacio Abdukadil

Ang tanong po, paano natin masusugpo ang kriminalidad tulad ng Kidnap-for-Ransom kung mismong ang tagapag patupad ng batas at mismong taga pangalaga ng seguridad ay siyang unang sumisira dito. Paano pa magtitiwala ang mga mamamayan, lalong lalo na ang mga biktima ng kidnapping at kanilang pamilya kung mismong ang mga otoridad ang nag aalaga at nagbibigay proteksyon sa mga kriminal?

Ladies and Gentlemen, fellow members of this Chamber, we can no longer pretend that the situation is still under control. An immediate, effective and comprehensive solution is needed. Instead of counting the victims, we must start the countdown towards the end of these kidnapping incidents. This is not an ordinary crime and as such, requires extraordinary solutions.

On this note, may I hereby urge my fellow members of this August body to do something; a probe into these latest series of kidnappings, it being a national issue that calls for immediate response. As legislators, we may need to review the policies of the government on the crime of Kidnap for Ransom, which may include inquiring into the mandate, capacity and performance of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (PACER); and to assess the policies, capabilities and response of Local Government Units, the PNP, and all other stakeholders on this most alarming issue.

This is an urgent matter that requires our most urgent attention.

Maraming Salamat.

AMIN launched Serbisyong Alay nAMIN

The Office of Anak Mindanao party list Representative Mujiv S. Hataman launched last October 18, 2008 its “Serbisyong Alay nAMIN” project for Zamboanga City at the Don Gregorio Elementary Memorial School, Sta. Catalina, Zamboanga City.

Present during the Project Launching were Rep. Hataman, AMIN National President Prof. Moy Edding, Serbisyong Alay nAMIN National Coordinator Ms. Jazmin Teodoro, Sta. Catalina Kagawads Belman Malandi, Padil Amil, Fidel Milan, Noel Bazan, Jimmy Villaflores and Rowena Posadas, Don GEMS OIC Principal Ms. Trinidad Serra, and Samahan ng mga Muslim at Christiano para sa Kaunlaran (SMCK)-Kababaihan President Mr. Boy Arabi, and SMCK-Kababaihan President Ms. Wilma Manuel.

The Serbisyong Alay nAMIN project has three components – Micro-Livelihood Services, Scholarship and Health Services.

Under the Micro-Livelihood Services, beneficiaries will be given financial assistance for the operation of Sari-Sari stores o Tindahan Natin Outlets. These stores will be authorized NFA rice dealers. During the said launching, four beneficiaries of the Micro-Livelihood Services were given their TNO Certificates. They were Angelita A. Doring of Barangay Ayala,

Nuhaila Arabi of Barangay Sta. Catalina, Sherida Sali of Barangay Sta. Maria and Kiram Cayda of Zamboanga del Sur.

The Health Services component of the AMIN project took off with a Medical Mission headed by Dra. Venus Serafin, Medical Specialist II from the Department of Health-Region IX. At least 700 individuals were examined and given medications for free during the medical mission at the said launching. Under the Health Services component, AMIN will give financial assistance to constituents for medical treatments. So far, AMIN has entered into Memoranda of Agreement with the Zamboanga General Hospital, Philippine General Hospital and the Philippine Heart Center.

For the AMIN Scholarship Program, at least 32 scholars were initially awarded with Certificates of Scholarship, which was accepted by one of the scholars, Ms. Amira Allian, of the Western Mindanao State University.

Also gracing the activity was TESDA IX Regional Director Zeus Ampuyas, who announced the agency's partnership with AMIN in giving TESDA scholarship especially to out-of-school youth and women.