Caraga VAW desk officers join 1st Regional Quiz
Bowl in Butuan
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 2 (PIA) - To
equip them and widen their knowledge on gender and development (GAD) campaign
against any form of violence and abuses to women, as well as women's rights,
the 1st Caraga Regional Quiz Bowl for Violence Against Women (VAW) Desk
Officers was recently conducted in this city.
This was spearheaded by the
Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women
and Children (RIACAT-VAWC) composed of various government agencies in the
region.
The VAW desk officers had
performed well and gave their best to win in the competition with the full
support of their respective local government units from the different provinces
of Caraga.
Joan Bitos, VAW desk officer of
Barangay Taglatawan, Bayugan City was one of the participants who prepared for
the said event and who wanted to show dedication in her duties and
responsibilities and be able to raise public awareness on women's rights, as
well as gender mainstreaming.
“It’s a privilege to work in
public service and being a public servant is a great opportunity for me to help
my constituents particularly the women sector. We should not only be a good
public servant but also equipped with knowledge and skills to perform well in
our respective functions,” said Bitos.
Lt. Ruth Cullantes,
officer-in-charge of the center for women and children protection desk - Agusan
del Norte Police Provincial Office, said that this initiative of the government
contributes much to the development of the VAW desk officers, as it will also
aid them to effectively address the issues and concerns that women and children
are facing today in every community.
“This kind of activity is very
useful for the VAW desk officers, and we believe that they would be more
effective in their function, along with the PNP in handling cases from the
barangays,” Cullantes said.
Meanwhile, Catherine Aranas,
social welfare officer and focal person for RIACAT-VAWC Caraga emphasized that
through the conduct of the quiz bowl, local chief executives would also be able
to determine what specific trainings they are to provide for their VAW desk
officers to make them more capable of their function. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Abandoned NPA cadaver, brought home by Army
By 1Lt. Roel T. Maglalang
BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte, Jan.
2 -- "Justice for my son." This was an outcry of a mother whose son
was abandoned by his comrades in the mountains of Sierra Madre when he got sick
and was unable to carry firearms and cannot anymore fight the government
forces. This was what Erlinda Cabachete of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte was
begging when she saw and received her son, Bertoldo Cabachete.
He was brought home by the
government troops from the hills of Sierra Madre in Luzon to their house in
Nasipit, Agusan del Norte. It can be recalled that last November 30, 2019 the
cadaver of late Bertoldo Cabatchete alias “LJ”, male, 29 years old, and a
regular member of NPA’s Komiteng Larangang Gerilya Sierra Madre, Central Luzon
Regional Committee (CLRC) operating in the mountain ranges of Sierra Madre was
found at the vicinity of Mt. Olong Amot, Barangay General Luna, Carranglan,
Nueva Ecija by the elements 84th Infantry (Victorious) Battalion, 7th Infantry
(Kaugnay) Division after receiving an information from a former rebel that one
of his comrades was left alone by his fellow NPA members.
Alias LJ died due to severe
illness and was just abandoned and buried by the CPP-NPA Terrorists at the
hinter area of Barangay General Luna, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija. His family was
not informed of his situation. He was not even given medication nor brought to
a hospital.
The remains of alias LJ was then
exhumed by the soldiers after a former rebel gave the information and location
of where his dead body was buried. It was then brought to Villamor Airbase,
Pasay City and through a C130, he was flown to Languindingan Airport, Cagayan
de Oro City on December 29, 2019 where his mother, Erlinda, was waiting.
With great sorrow, Mrs. Erlinda
Cabatchete, mother of alias LJ poured out her grievance against the CPP-NPA
Terrorists (CNTs) who recruited her son. “We are very saddened by the death of
our son. He left our home way back 2016 and said that he will apply for a job
in Manila. But then he didn’t communicate with us anymore. We don’t have any
idea that he was recruited by the CNTs and what happened to him now really
broke me into pieces. It's hard for me to know that I can no longer see my son
alive anymore. The heartless NPAs recruited my son, but they never help him
when he was sick. They should have brought him to the doctor because we usually
admit him to the doctor when his illness attacks. If only the NPAs did not
recruit my son, he is still alive up to now because I can take care of him,”
said Mrs. Cabatchete.
Moreover, Mayor Enrico Corvera of
Nasipit, Agusan del Norte said that "this is another incident that shows
the CPP-NPA Terrorists don't care and value life. That is why, we initiate
programs to insulate the youth from being recruited by the CPP-NPA.”
Likewise, Lieutenant Colonel
Francisco L. Molina Jr, Commander Officer, 23IB covering the area of Nasipit
expressed his condolences to the bereaved family of LJ. "Kung hindi sana
siya niloko at nilinlang Ng CPP-NPA, marahil ay buhay pa siya ngayon. Everyone
must be vigilant from the deceit of the CPP-NPA," he said.
"They take advantage on the
weaknesses of the poor people in staging their nonsense business," Molina
added. (CMO Officer, 23IB, Philippine Army/PIA Agusan del Norte)
Army, locals hold indignation rally vs NPAs
By 1Lt. Krisjuper Andreo Punsalan
BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur, Jan.
2 - “NPA salot sa lipunan.”
This was the drumbeat of citizens
from all walks of life during the recently held indignation rally against the
New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists in Bayugan City and Lianga Peoples’ Park in
Lianga, Surigao del Sur, simultaneously.
The local government unit (LGU)
representatives, Indigenous Peoples (IPs), youth organizations with the
Philippine National Police (PNP) and the 3rd Special Forces “Arrowhead”
Battalion (3SFBn) attended the anti-NPA campaign.
Lianga Indigenous Peoples
Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Hawudon Jumar Bucales said the Communist NPA
Terrorists (CNTs) are the ones who destroyed their IP culture by disrespecting
the IP’s tribal governance system.
“Gusto nilang ipalit na mga lider
sa IP ay yung mga kaya nilang kontrolin at gamitin ang tribo para iabante ang
political at armadong pakikibaka ng CPP-NPA (They wanted to post leaders for
the IPs those that they could easily control and use the IP tribes to pursue
the political and armed struggle of the CPP-NPA),” Bucales said.
He also called on the militant
groups to stop using the tribe as props to gain sympathy from foreign funding
institutions.
“Pauwiin niyo na ang mga katribo
naming nasa Maynila, nandyan sa UP Diliman, ginagawa niyo silang kasangkapan
para kumuha lang ng simpatya at siraan ang gobyerno at military na tumutugis sa
mga teroristang NPA (Release our co-IPs who are now in Manila, particularly in
UP Diliman, you are just using them as your instrument to get sympathy from the
public and force them to revolt against the government, and prevent the Army
from pursuing the terrorist NPA),” Bucales added.
This year, Agusan, Surigao del Sur
municipalities and various provinces in Mindanao have declared the CNTs as
persona non-grata making them more irrelevant and their cause useless.
Lt. Col. Joey Baybayan, commander
of 3SFBn, called on the remaining terrorists to surrender and lay down their
arms as the whole nation stands against them.
“With the Task Forces to End Local
Communist Armed Conflict, many people became enlightened with their deceitful
tactics making them more cautious and concerned because anyone could be a
target and a victim of NPA recruitment, extortion and many other atrocities
committed by the CNTs,” LTC Baybayan said.
“Filipinos are peace-loving and if
you really fight for the people, hear their cry against you. The people want
you out. They want you to stop your crimes and atrocities. The people don’t
need you (NPAs) because you are a hindrance to attaining lasting peace in the
country,” he added.
Meanwhile, Hands off of Our
Children, League of the Parents of Philippines, Citizen Crime Watch at Manila
NGO Alliance, Bantay Bayan and other concerned citizens rose up against the
CNTs, Communist Party of the Philippines and National Democratic Front, who
have caused divisiveness, terror and unrest especially in the conflict-affected
areas around the country through mass rallies in Metro Manila. (CMO officer,
3SFBn/ PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Pangangalaga sa Agusan Marsh, pinaigting pa ng
lokal na pamahalaan
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Enero 2 (PIA) -
Para mas maprotektahan ang Agusan River na pinakamalaking wetlands sa Caraga
region, nagpulong ang iba't-ibang ahensya ng gobyerno sa pangunguna ng
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at ng pribadong sektor
para bumuo ng plano na makakatulong sa pagsalba rito mula sa posibleng
pagkasira.
Malaking parte ng Agusan River ang
Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, na idineklarang protected area sa Agusan del
Sur ng dating pangulong Fidel V. Ramos.
Nagsisilbi itong drainage basin na
malaking tulong sa mga Agusanon tuwing panahon ng tag-ulan at mula sa pagtama
ng bagyo.
Ayon kay Agusan del Sur Governor
Santiago Cane, Jr., mahigpit na pinapatulad ng gobyerno ang Environmental Code
sa Agusan Marsh.
Nanawagan din sya sa lahat ng
Caraganon na tumulong sa pagpreserba ng mga natural-grown trees na malapit
sa wetlands dahil ang mga ito ang nagbibigay-buhay sa Agusan Marsh.
Para naman kay Eugene Taw-on,
isang mag-aaral sa Bayugan National Comprehensive High School, mahalaga ang
papel ng mga kabataan sa research ng gobyerno at pribadong institusyon maging
ang mga hakbang nito para mapanatiling buhay at kapaki-pakinabang ang wetlands
ng rehiyon.
Samantala, binigyang-diin ni
DENR-Caraga regional director, Atty. Felix Alicer ang kahalagahan ng Agusan
River at ang binibigay na benepisyo nito sa mga Caraganon. Isa ito sa mga
kilalang tourist spots sa rehiyon.
Sakop ng Agusan Marsh ang mga
bayan ng San Francisco, Rosario, Bunawan, Veruela, Loreto, Talacogon At La Paz
sa probinsya ng Agusan del Sur. Idineklara rin itong Ramsar Wetland Site noong
1999. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
VAW desk officers nakilahok sa 1st Reg'l Quiz
Bowl sa Butuan City
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Enero 2 (PIA) -
Sa layong mahasa at lumawak pa ang kaalaman ukol sa gender and development
(GAD) at kampanya laban karahasan sa mga kababaihan, isinagawa sa lungsod ng
Butuan ang 1st Regional Quiz Bowl for Violence Against Women (VAW) desk
officers ng Caraga region.
Ito ay sa pangunguna ng Regional
Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking and Violence Against Women and
Children (RIACAT-VAWC) na binubuo ng ibat-ibang ahensiya sa rehiyon.
Aktibong nakibahagi ang VAW desk
officers mula sa ibat-ibang probinsya ng Caraga.
Isa si Joan Bitos, VAW desk
officer ng Barangay Taglatawan, Bayugan City sa mga naghanda para sa nasabing
quiz bowl.
Ayon kay Bitos, nais lamang niyang
maipakita ang kanyang dedikasyon sa kanyang tungkulin na mapalawak ang
kamalayaan ng mga kababayan sa karapatan ng mga kababaihan.
“Isang karangalan ang maglingkod
sa bayan at mapagsilbihan ang ating mga kababayan lalo na ng mga kababaihan.
Importante talaga na hindi lang magaling magsilbi sa bayan, kundi may alam din
at marunong mag-handle ng mga kaso sa sinasakupang komunidad ang kagaya naming
VAW desk officers,” sabi ni Bitos.
Para naman kay Lt. Ruth Cullantes,
officer-in-charge ng center for women and children protection desk-Agusan del
Norte Police Provincial Office, malaking tulong ang inisyatibong ito ng
gobyerno upang matugunan din ang mga isyu at concern na kinakaharap ng mga
kababaihan at mga bata sa bawat komunidad.
“Malaking tulong para sa ating mga
VAW desk officers sa bawat barangay na mas mapalawak pa ang kanilang kaalaman
at mahasa pa ang kanilang galing sa pagresolba sa mga isyu lalu na sa mga
kababaihan. Patuloy naman ang aming koordinasyon sa kanila,” ani ni Cullantes.
Samantala, binigyang-diin din ni
Catherine Aranas, social welfare officer at focal person ng RIACAT-VAWC ang
kahalagahan ng pagbibigay ng naaayon at nararapat na skills training at
capability building nang mas maging epektibo sila sa paganap ng kanilang
tungkulin. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
