Where is Andal Ampatuan Jr.?

WHERE IS ANDAL AMPATUAN JR.? There is one other item that must be clarified immediately on the Maguindanao November 23, 2009 massacre which, as of this writing, already lists 57 individuals murdered mercilessly.

This is the claim, made by Buluan town Mayor Ebrahim Mangudadatu right after the killings were exposed in the media, that his sister, Mayor Eden Mangudadatu of Mangudadatu town, actually managed to stab Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr. right after Eden’s convoy was waylaid.

A report of the Philippine Daily Inquirer first posted on Monday, November 23, 2009 at 1715 hours (or 5:15 p.m.), gave this account of the claim: “Buluan town Mayor Ebrahim Mangudadatu, brother of Ishmael, said they got witnesses who claimed that his sister, Mayor Eden Mangudadatu of Mangudadatu town, was brave enough to stab Datu Unsay town Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the man who wanted to succeed his father, Andal Sr., as Maguindanao governor and the man against whom Ishmael would run.”

The same report then added: “ `Maybe sensing that all of them will be killed, she drew out a knife and stabbed Andal Jr. She’s brave,’ the mayor said...”

The question now is: is this claim true? Where is Andal Jr. now? If Andal Jr. was really stabbed by Eden and sustained injuries on his body as a result of this attack by Eden, then there is no question anymore that he, indeed, should be held liable for the murders, and arrested right away.

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NFA ASSURES SUPPLY OF RICE FOR THE REST OF 2009: The supply of rice for the rest of 2009 is more than sufficient, and the inventory of the government, through the National Food Authority (NFA), showing that there is 1.1 million metric tons of rice still available nationwide, confirms this fact.

This was made clear Wednesday, November 25, 2009, by Rex Estoperez, the public information officer of the NFA, in an interview with BATAS INTERNET RADIO over the program hosted by me, “Batas Radio Reports”.

Rex said the existing inventory can last for a minimum of thirty days. Should there be any problem in the days to come, the NFA under Administrator Jessup Navarro is prepared to import rice from abroad to assure a steady supply.

As of now, Rex added, NFA rice at Php18.25 a kilo can still be purchased, but the purchaser has to be a member of a family earlier identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development as a beneficiary of low priced-rice and given a so-called “Family Access Card”.
The government is also making sure that the price of rice per kilo will not reach Php30.00, as the present price levels---Php26.00, Php27 and Php28.00---continue to be vigilantly enforced by the NFA.

However, the NFA is appealing to the public in general and to rice traders in particular to continue keeping watch over the sale of NFA rice, to assure that it is sold at prices mandated by the agency.

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THE HOLY ALPHABET: “The Holy Alphabet” is an Internet posting I first saw from the e-group of the Sigma Rho Fraternity of the UP College of Law, and it is an awesome expression of faith in God, using all the letters of the alphabet in the first words in every stanza.

This posting appears to have come from an Overseas Filipino Worker in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, by the name of Michael Cervantes.

I am reprinting it here, not in the way it is now posted in the Internet due to space limitations, but I would like the reader to make a particular note of the capitalized letter of each stanza:

“Although things are not perfect; Because of trial or pain; Continue in thanksgiving; Do not begin to blame; Even when the times are hard; Fierce winds are bound to blow; God is forever able; Hold on to what you know; Imagine life without His love;

“Joy would cease to be; Keep thanking Him for all the things; Love imparts to thee; Move out of 'Camp Complaining'; No weapon that is known; On earth can yield the power; Praise can do alone; Quit looking at the future; Redeem the time at hand; Start every day with worship; To 'thank' is a command;

“Until we see Him coming; Victorious in the sky; We'll run the race with gratitude; Xalting God most high; Yes, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but... Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!” Amen!

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BATAS INTERNET RADIO: Please listen to BATAS INTERNET RADIO through four websites: www.batasradio.com, www.kakampimoangbatas.ning.com, www.batasmauricio.com, and www.eradioportal.com. We go on the air 20 hours a day, from 4 am to 12 midnight, Mondays to Fridays.
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