UNICEF equips PNP with
investigation skills on crimes involving women and children
By ALICE NICART (PIA Borongan)
December 21, 2006
VICMAR, San Jose,
Tacloban City – Some 75 members of the Eastern Samar Police - Women
and Children’s Desk were given capability training on how to handle
cases particularly those involving abuses on women and children,
December 16-18.
In her message during
the closing program, General Yolanda Tanigue of Camp Crame’s WCCD-DIDM
who is also a registered social welfare officer and a holder of
masteral and doctoral degree in Criminology urged the policemen and
women to work hand in hand in protecting women and children in order
to build a strong nation. She said that the three-day training will
somehow help the peace officers in handling the special cases.
Before hand, the
trainees listened to a series of lectures on: Gender Sensitivity,
Referral System, Handling the Media, Investigator’s Notebook, Criminal
Procedures, How to Interview, Custodial Investigation, etc.
This writer asked for
some clarification when the point of exclusiveness of the police
blotter was emphasized by Police Captain Erna Foerster. She said
however, that it is during the time when the case is submitted to the
prosecutor that media can read the blotter. Cases however involving
women and children must have a separate blotter otherwise there is a
violation of law. Neither also can a policeman handle a case involving
sexual abuse as indicated in Republic Act "Rape Shield Law".
Asked how they
accepted the training, PO2 Jonathan Rivas gleaned that they never had
it so good. They are thankful that UNICEF through the Provincial
Social Welfare Office sponsored the training and further wished that a
similar training be conducted for the rest of their brothers in arm.
Police Senior Inspector Ednaly Buncad PNP 8’s WCCD Officer wished that
a similar training be conducted in other provinces, but this writer
who also acted as facilitator was quick to say that only two provinces
in the region are UNICEF areas. However, Gen. Tanigue was quicker to
commit that should no funds would be available, her office will find
the means for same future trainings.
The training formed
part of PSWDO’s CPC 6 Work Program PIA handles the Communication
Component of UNICEF’s Country Programme for Children.
32 Surigao fishermen
afloat rescued by fisherfolks in Eastern Samar
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December
19, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– The 32 Surigao fishermen aboard two fishing vessels who were
rescued after six days ordeal at sea, by Eastern Samar fisherfolk, are
now safely back with their families.
This is the
information given to PIA 8 by Mr. Allan Limbuan, the provincial
administrator of Eastern Samar, Monday.
The provincial
administrator informed that the 32 fishermen were escorted to the
Liloan port in Southern Leyte by the staff of the provincial
government of Eastern Samar last Sunday, December 17 where they were
met by the staff from the provincial government of Surigao. They took
the 5:00 o’clock boat going home to Surigao, Mr. Limbuan said.
Afloat at sea for six
days since typhoon Seniang hit the country on December 9, the ordeal
of 32 fishermen from Surigao ended when they were rescued by
kind-hearted fishermen from Eastern Samar on Friday December 15, 2006.
The 32 fishermen
aboard fishing boats FB JL 3 and FB JL 4 left Surigao on December 7
and remained afloat since December 9 when the fishing boats were
ravaged due to typhoon Seniang. They were kept floating by the
Styrofoam containers they were carrying in their fishing boats.
On December 15, the 32
fishermen were seen and saved by fishermen of
Eastern Samar. The seventeen farmers aboard fishing boat FB JL 4
were rescued some kilometers away from the shore of the
municipality of Oras,
located some 81 kilometers north of the capital town of
Borongan.
The fifteen Surigao
fishermen aboard FB JL 3 were rescued in the shores of Mac Arthur and
Hernani towns, about 55 kilometers from Borongan.
Mr. Allan Limbuan, the
administrative officer of Eastern Samar, in an interview with PIA said
that since some of the fishermen were already weak after the six-days
ordeal at sea, they were brought to the MacArthur and Oras hospitals
for medical attention.
Those rescued were
Edgar Gecozo, Gerardo Ytac, Jeffrey Belocura, Boy Bautista, Joey
Perjes, Jose Perjes, Russel Maguinano, Marlon Bano, Oliver Bano, Eddie
Mata, Rico Rapatan, Jimmy Ybanez Sr., Benjie Tabat, Bartolome Tabat,Jr.,
Danny Ganados, Jose Bautista, Danny Calogada, Jimmy Birondo, Andito
Pigarro, Rolando Borneo, Crisanto Betonio, Erijun Tamonan, Jake
Bautista, Judy Alquizar, Randy Maginsay, Rolan Gricela, Reno Rendon,
Wennie Mata, Ireneo Tamunan and Renante Multillano.
The Eastern Samar
Administrator said that upon learning of the rescue, Governor Ben
Evardone immediately contacted Surigao Governor Barbers who in turn
requested that the fishermen be brought to the Liloan port.
Northern Samar civil
engineers bag Most Outstanding PICE Chapter award
By AILENE N. DIAZ (PIA Northern
Samar)
December 20,
2006
CATARMAN, Northern
Samar – Besting all chapters of the Philippine Institute of Civil
Engineers (PICE) nationwide, the Northern Samar PICE chapter for two
consecutive years got the most coveted “Most Outstanding PICE chapter
(Category C)” award in a fitting ceremony held recently during the
32nd Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers National Convention at
the Iloilo Grand Hotel in Iloilo City.
Northern Samar PICE
president Engineer Sandy Pua led the delegation of 17 Northern Samar
Civil Engineers in receiving the award.
Two other civil
engineers got much deserved honors when Engr. Alvin Ignacio and Engr.
Lucas Bacsal were conferred the title Specialist in Construction
Management and Engineering. The same certificate was awarded last year
to Engr. Martin Guevarra who was again conferred the title Specialist
in Water Supply and Hydraulic Engineering in the same ceremony in
Iloilo City.
According to
construction management and engineering awardee Engr. Alvin Ignacio,
the Most Outstanding PICE Award (Category C) is an accolade of
Mindoro civil engineers for the past 12 years.
The standard criteria
of the awards included implementation of: regular production of
newsletters, community development projects, growth of membership,
continuing professional development, disaster quick response program,
membership welfare insurance, student assistance program, and the
conduct of regular meetings. All these should jibe with the vision and
mission of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers.
Ignacio said that
there still a lot of Civil Engineers in
Northern Samar who are not members of PICE. “We are therefore
encouraging them to be part of this organization. This organization
does not only enhance our knowledge and experiences but most
importantly we are being updated with the new technology related to
our specialization. The PICE is now involved not only in enhancing the
professional skills of the organization but also in solving issues
that focus on social concerns,” Ignacio further explained.
The PICE convention is
conducted twice a year to enhance the educational development and
intensify the PRC Resolution on the institutionalization of the
continuing professional education of civil engineers. Topics in the
recent convention included state of the art technologies related to
Structural Engineering, geotechnical Engineering, Water Engineering,
Transportation Engineering and Construction Management and
Engineering, Transportation Engineering and Construction Management
and Engineering.
12 rebellion cases
filed re recovered skeletons of purging victims
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December
18, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– Twelve cases of rebellion have been filed regarding the uncovered
bones of purging victims at Sitio Sapang Daku, Barangay Caulisihan,
Inopacan, Leyte.
This was revealed by
General dela Paz, regional director of PNP Region 8, who said that
about 70 persons were charged including the top hierarchy of NPA, who
based on evidences gathered and based on the statements of former NPA
members and leaders, ordered the purging.
The whole Region and
the country were shocked when troops from the Army’s 802nd Infantry
Brigade under Col. Allan Ragpala found 67 skeletons, after two days of
digging, from a mass gravesite in the killing field known to the
residents in the nearby barangays as “the garden” located some 370
meters above sea level at a ridge on Mt. Sapang Dako.
The troops were led to
the Garden by some of the nearby residents and former members of the
NPA who claimed that they themselves witnessed the purging. One even
demonstrated how the victims who were suspected of being military
assets, were tortured to death.
Forensic experts from
the Philippine National Police were called to take care of the
skeletons which were recovered. Days after the discovery of the
gravesites, police and military authorities in Eastern Visayas
announced that they were filing murder charges against exiled
communist rebel Jose Ma. Sison; National Democratic Front Chief Peace
Negotiator, Luis Jalandoni; and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, in
connection with the purge. Sison and Jalandoni, who are living in
exile in the Netherlands,
and Ocampo reportedly signed the "death warrants" for the victims.
General dela Paz said
that military investigators were able to compile documentary and
testimonial evidence against those who were named as respondents in
the cases filed. Two former NPA commanders and a rebel organizer, who
witnessed the killings, faced the media at Camp Aguinaldo
Thursday to tell their story on what really happened within the
Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee in 1985.
A former company
commander of the NPA’s Southern Leyte Front Committee said Sison,
Jalandoni and Ocampo, then CPP Central Committee members, ordered the
launching of Oplan VD (Veneral Disease). "The central committee
ordered us to clean our ranks of the VD, a contagious disease," he
said, referring to suspected government spies who were arrested and
subsequently killed.
"VD is a germ that if
left unchecked is highly contagious that could affect the movement,"
the former NPA commander said. He also claimed that he personally saw
the order signed by Sison, Ocampo and Jalandoni to purge the Leyte
Front Committee of infiltrators whom the central committee called
"germs."
Cong. Libanan wows
Tacloban with his Music from the Heart
By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
December
18, 2006
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte
– Leyte First District Representative Remedios “Matin” Petilla
clarified the P10 million remaining of the sourced fund for the
development of the Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Dulag,
Leyte is a trust fund that would be used to finance infrastructure
development and site expansion of the present facility.
This as the Regional
Development Council (RDC) recently announced they are seeking to have
the multi-million peso fund turned over to the council.
According to Cong.
Petilla, who served as RDC chair when she was governor of Leyte, the
sourced fund is not for the operational expenses of the center as it
the facility’s operations should be maintained from the local
government units’ contribution as agreed when the SALAG project was
proposed some years back.
A Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) was forged between the donors and the RDC then and
this would specifically be used for the facility’s infrastructure.
“I am only careful
that the fund would really go to its original purpose as this is
really a big amount and I am the one, as RDC chair who signed with
that MOA,” Cong. Petilla said.
According to the lady
solon the RDC body is trying to take hold of the remaining fund for
the drug rehabilitation center’s operation, which is contrary to what
was agreed in the MOA.
“There is another
source for the funding of the center’s operation. It should be taken
from the contribution of the local government unit in the region which
is one-half of the one percent of the IRA of each LGU,” Cong. Petilla
added.
She said she made the
center operational during her chairmanship using only the member’s
contribution.
“I think they should
also look into the agreed part of the LGU on the SALAG project. If
they are still able to contribute or not as it was agreed even
before,” the lady solon remarked.
Also, she said that
there was a plan to have a bigger rehabilitation center that can
accommodate more than the number of patients the SALAG in Dulag, Leyte
is now serving and this is where the remaining of the fund should go
to.
Meanwhile, she
explained sourced fund was entrusted to the
Leyte provincial
government as then, the Drug Rehab Center was “yet to have a
personality of its own and the donors would only entrust a fund if
there would be a responsible organization.”
“The money is still
with the provincial government of
Leyte and once the center would need to have infrastructure
development or start to build a new facility, the fund is ready for
such use,” Cong. Petilla disclosed.
