Family prepares reunion with daughter killed in Iraq fire The family of an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from Pigcawayan, North Cotabato who died in a fire in Iraq is prepar- ing “welcoming arms" even if she is coming home in a box. Former police offi- cer Kelly Soria, father of Ruby Jean Flores Soria, one of 13 OFWs who died in a hotel fire in Kurdis- tan, Iraq, said the family will welcome her with a heavy heart. “We will welcome her. She is my daughter and we love her so much,” Soria said in a radio in- terview. He said he was not sure yet when his daughter will arrive in Vol. LXVIII No. 02 Cotabato City Saturday, February 13, 2016 18Pages P10.00 Pigcawayan. Soria said his daugh- ter was scheduled to come home on vacation within the next two months and even talked to her mother a day prior to the incident. Soria said the family has accepted that she was gone forever. Ruby has been working in Iraq for the past two years. “Painful, but we can- not do otherwise. She will remain forever in our ‘REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL.’ Catholic faithful all over the world marked the start of Lent with the celebration of Ash Wednesday on February 10. hearts,” the elder Soria In Cotabato City, parishioners flocked to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral to have their foreheads marked with a cross with ashes burned from blessed palms fronds from last year’s Palm Sunday. (Valerie Ann Lambo) FAMILY/P4 AFP:The arrest lateIndal’s Tuesday of one of its rankingarrest leader was a hugehuge setback for BIFF setback for the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) and its armed wing, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), Tacurong bombing suspects known, manhunt on both the military and BIFF separately said. TACURONG CITY – Police authori- is still going on,” he said. “It’s a big blow to the Kalanganan to avoid the by laying IEDs and attacking ties here have identified the two men who The blast hurt three persons, identi- BIFF. They lost a middle level skirmishes between govern- communities,” Pangilinan allegedly planted an improvised explosive fied in the police report as Pepito Patricio, leader believed to be behind ment forces and BIFF in Datu said. device under a parked car on Feb. 2 that Arniel Pawaon, and Freddie Tumindig. the series of bomb attacks in Salibo, Maguindanao which "We are thankful for the exploded at 2 p.m. and left three persons Hachuela said police investigators are Maguindanao,” Capt. Joan started Friday last week. growing awareness of the injured. still gathering more evidences and state- Petinglay said. But Abu Misri Mama, community in fighting ter- Petinglay, speaking for speaking for the BIFF, said in rorism by providing essential Supt. Ranie Hachuela, chief of the ments from witnesses who may have seen the Army’s 6th Infantry Divi- a phone interview that Indal information for his capture," Tacurong City PNP, said witnesses told the suspects. sion, said in a radio interview was in Cotabato City for medi- he added. police investigators that two men on a mo- It was the second bombing incident that community participation cal treatment. Indal was said Petinglay said Indal was torbike arrived and left something under near the Caltex Gas Station since January in the campaign against the to be suffering from diabetes informed of the cause of his ar- the engine of a black Toyota BB car with 11 when an attempt was foiled by a fruit lawless group paid off with and has been lying low the rest and of his rights, including temporary licensed plate 122-680 parked vendor who noticed a box near her stall. the arrest of Hassan Indal, past two months. his right to seek legal counsel. along Jose Abad Santos Avenue. That box was found out to contain an 51, BIFM vice chair for inter- “He was not hiding,” Indal was facing charges “We have reviewed and studied IED fashioned from black powder, trigger- nal affairs and leader of the Mama insisted. for murder and frustrated the CCTV footage of an establishment ing devices, and cut nails as shrapnel, the BIFF’s 4th division. “Yes, it was a big blow for murder. Following his arrest, Indal, also known as Abu the BIFF but that is normal he will be charged with illegal nearby,” Hachuela told DXOM- Radyo same components bomb experts found in Hazam/Hassan, was arrested in revolutionary movement,” possession of firearms and Bida in Koronadal City. A cartographic the Feb. 2 attack. in a safe house in Barangay Mama said in Filipino, refer- explosives and for violating sketch of the suspects has been completed, The police director said the suspects Kalanganan Mother, Cota- ring to Indal’s arrest. election gun ban. he added. really intended to maim or kill innocent bato City during a joint Army “His loss does not prevent Recovered from Indal’s Hachuela refused to give further people. and police raid at 11:50 p.m. us from continuing our fight house were an Armalite rifle, a details to avoid jeopardizing follow up Hachuela has appealed to the public Tuesday. for an independent Islamic cal. 45 pistol, a fragmentation operations. to remain vigilant and alert the police of Indal did not resist ar- State in Mindanao,” he added. grenade, and ammunition. “Police have the facial characteristics any suspicious individuals carrying suspi- rest, but his son, Ali Indal, “Makabawi din kami sa Petinglay said on orders of the suspects, and manhunt operation cious items. Edwin O. Fernandez grabbed the M-16 Armalite mga sundalo (We will get of Pangilinan the security and rifle beside him in an attempt back at government forces),” clearing operations against to stop the arresting officers, Mama said, adding “Many the BIFF in Datu Salibo will according to Chief Inspec- will come after him (Indal).” continue to ensure the safety of tor William Santos, officer- Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pan- all and a flagship government The Zika virus: Facts you need to know in-charge of PNP Criminal gilinan, 6th Infantry Division flood control project. The Zika virus was is uncommon and deaths partner had and suffered Investigation and Detection commander, lauded the civil- Sporadic clashes had been discovered nearly 70 years are rare. Zika-like symptoms. Group in the Autonomous ian informant who provided on-going in at least three vil- ago, according to the World How does it spread? Health officials are Region in Muslim Mindanao intelligence information on the lages of Datu Salibo after Health Organization Zika is primarily now urging men to use (CIDG-ARMM). location of Indal. the BIFF harassed on Fri- (WHO), but chances are spread through the bite of condoms after travelling to With their rifles ready, "This is an accomplish- day afternoon a private firm you probably hadn't heard an infected Aedes species areas which have the Zika the lawmen fired at Ali, kill- ment not only of the security dredging the Butilen river in of it until the past few of mosquito. virus and to avoid having ing him on the spot, Santos forces but of the entire com- Barangay Butalo. months. Pregnant women can unprotected sex for six said. munity because Indal was one The Army said more An emerging mosqui- also pass the virus to their months if they have had Petinglay said Indal had of the BIFF leaders who con- than 20 BIFF fighters were to-borne virus, Zika was babies during pregnancy, symptoms. been hiding in Barangay tinually sow terror to civilians killed based on information first identified in Uganda but how and when this They say pregnant on the ground but Mama in 1947 in rhesus mon- happens is unclear. women should avoid con- denied it. Instead, he said, keys through a monitoring Those infected can tact with semen from men the government suffered five network of sylvatic yellow pass the virus on through exposed to the virus. fatalities, including an Army fever. It was subsequently a mosquito bite for about Where is Zika found? captain. identified in humans in seven days after infection. The latest outbreak is “We have no casualty; 1952 in Uganda and the There are no reports in 25 countries in the Ca- our mujahedeen were only United Republic of Tan- of transmission through ribbean, Central America, exhausted in fighting mili- zania. Outbreaks of Zika breastfeeding, but in a and South America. tary tanks,” Mama said. virus disease have been few cases the virus has Past outbreaks have Petinglay brushed aside recorded in Africa, the been reported to have been been in Gabon, Egypt, Mama’s claim, saying only Americas, Asia, and the passed on through blood Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra two soldiers were slightly Pacific. transfusion. Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, the injured. They are Capt. What is the Zika virus Can it be caught Central African Republic, Amoloy, 22nd Mechanized disease? through sexual contact? Cambodia, Micronesia, Company commander, and A mosquito-transmit- Sexual transmission Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Pfc. Robles. ted infection, Zika virus of Zika is considered rare Thailand, Philippines, and Petinglay said the Army disease is related to den- although health officials in Indonesia. could not confirm nor deny gue, yellow fever, and the the US state of Texas have How is Zika diag- the reported 20 or more BIFF West Nile virus infection. reported a case in which nosed? fatalities “because we have Symptoms are mild they say Zika is likely A blood or tissue sam- not recovered their bodies.” and include fever, rash, to have been contracted ple from the first week of More than 1,500 fami- joint pain, and conjuncti- through sex.