MANILA, Philippines — With an apparently lackluster in the 24th Round of Exploratory Talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last December 9 to 11, a senior Mindanao leader said Tuesday the peace process between the Philippine government and Muslim rebels has now entered a “make or break” phase.

Jesus Dureza, a former government panel peace negotiator, noted the two parties’ Joint Statement released after the latest negotiations, saying though it sounded “positive,” it was couched in “general terms with motherhood statements.” (Edd Usman)

Brigade chief

TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat – The Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, locally known for its relentless efforts in helping unify people and groups in minor conflicts, underwent a leadership turnover in simple yet well-attended ceremonies here Sunday.

“After steering the Brigade’s successful Internal Security Operation (ISO) campaign, outgoing Brigade head Colonel Dece M. Yabo, turned over the baton of command to Colonel Edmundo R. Pangilinan, the former Commander of Task Force North Cotabato” at Sunday’s rites, Brigade Executive Officer Lt. Col. Noel Solas said. (Ali Macabalang)

ARMM leadership

COTABATO CITY – The Supreme Court, though beleaguered in the just-opened impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona by the Senate, should find time to rule on the equally confusing nature of leadership now reigning in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) governance. This was the common expressed concern of stakeholders including even knowledgeable career personnel of the ARMM bureaucracy in separate interviews and casual talks with the media.

“While we occupy permanent position-items and, therefore, our office tenures are protected by law, we are still hounded by questions of legitimacy in the reign of caretakers appointed by the President in the regional government,” a law graduate and middle management official under the Office of the Regional Governor averred. (Ali Macabalang)

Cotabato polls

KIDAPAWAN CITY – Roughly 17 months before the May, 2013 elections come, the political fever has already started heating up in North Cotabato with sitting Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza openly challenging her former political ally-turned-archrival Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol to a rematch.

“To clear once and for all the air of doubts, I would want a rematch with him,” Mendoza told reporters here. The governor was referring to the former vice governor, who earlier presented in a media forum what appeared to be a computer-generated pools of proofs of “irregularities” allegedly uncovered by poll machines used in 2010 elections. (Ali Macabalang)

Gov't assistance

PATIN-AY, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur – Thousands of farmers, farming cooperatives, and organizations in the agricultural-rich landlocked province of Agusan del Sur continue to benefit from a government assistance. It was learned that the farmers also started to recover millions of pesos lost through flash floods because of the assistance from the national and provincial governments.

The Provincial Agriculture Office reported that it received some 21,300 kilos of Zinc Sulfate fertilizer amounting to some P1,034,410 and another 5,000 liters of organic liquid fertilizer amounting to P625,000 from the Department of Agriculture for the farmers. (Mike Crismundo)