Young Moros sell shirts to raise fund for Marawi IDPs

SARANGANI PROVINCE -- A group of young Moro volunteers has been selling shirts as its initiative to raise funds that benefits the Maranaos displaced by the Marawi siege. 

“This is our way of helping Maranao brothers and sisters displaced due to the armed confrontation in Marawi City,” said Bai Ashrafia Alonto Biruar, one of the conveners of We Are Marawi Fundraiser Team, in an interview.

On May 23, 2017, the combined forces of Abu Sayaff and Maute Terror Groups staged an attack in Marawi City which prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare Martial Law in Mindanao.

She said the social media is a big help in promoting the fundraising drive.

“After posting it on facebook, we got positive response, more orders from here and abroad suddenly came,” Biruar added.

She said the "We Are Marawi" shirts are currently being produced in the cities of Cotabato, Iligan and Davao.

The volunteers have already brought two batches of relief goods to the IDPs staying in Lanao del Norte.

“We were able to give food packs, prayer mats, prayer dress, hygienic kits and toys for the children,” Biruar related.

The group, which is comprised of young Moro professionals and students, is contemplating of coming up with new design for the shirt with more active and positive slogan.

Biruar is optimistic that the battle in Marawi will end soon.

The team also urge the public to help in rebuilding the town which is also known as the only Islamic City in the Philippines.

The shirt can be viewed in facebook using hashtag #wearemarawi. The item costs PHP299 with different sizes available for adult and children. It was designed by Ameen Andrew Alonto, an artist, photographer and peace advocate. (PNA)#salam

Ex-Tawi-Tawi vice guv, now a congresswoman pleads guilty to SALN violation

By Perfecto Raymundo, Jr.

MANILA -- Former Tawi-Tawi Vice Governor Ruby Sahali Tan on Thursday pleaded guilty before the Sandiganbayan to six counts of violation of Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6713, or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees”.

Tan voluntarily pleaded guilty during her re-arraignment with the assistance of her counsel, and after she was fully apprised of the consequences of her plea.

With this development, Tan is deemed to have admitted all the material facts alleged in the information filed against her by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The anti-graft court ordered Tan to pay a fine of PHP5,000 for each count, or a total of PHP30,000, and subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency.

She was indicted after the Ombudsman found that she failed to file her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) under oath from 2007 to 2011, while her 2008 to 2012 SALNs were not filed on time.

Under Section 8 of RA 6713, “public officials and employees have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests, including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households.”

It also requires every government official and employee to file the SALN within 30 days after assumption of office, or on or before April 30 of every year thereafter, and within 30 days after separation from the service. (PNA).