Caraga posts low crime rate in 1st sem, PNP record shows
BUTUAN CITY (December 10) – Record of the Philippine National Police (PNP) – Police Regional Office (PRO)-13 shows less crime rate in the region during the first semester this year compared to the same semester last year.
This was reported by Police Superintendent Cristita dela Cruz, PNP focal person of the Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (GADCC) in a press conference held recently at the conference room of the city hall here, in time with the 18-day campaign to end violence against women spearheaded by GADCC.
According to dela Cruz, there is a less volume of crime rate in the entire region as compared last year, especially crimes related to violence against women and children.
“Basing on the data that we have in PNP-Caraga, crimes especially those related to violence against women and children are less the early semester this year compared to last year,” she said.
Moreover, dela Cruz said, of the crimes reported and recorded in PNP, all were considered solved considering that majority of those who were involved in these crimes were filed with respective cases and are currently undergo hearing on the court.
Meanwhile, the 18-day campaign to end violence against women which kicked-off November 25, 2008 is a commemorative event marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (VAW) on November 25, the International Human Rights Day on December 10, and the Signing of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime including the Protocol to prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking in persons especially women and children on Friday, December 12, 2008 – which is also the culmination of the campaign.
This year’s activity is anchored on the theme “CEDAW ng Bayan: ReMOVE VAW!” CEDAW stands for Convention on the Elimination all forms of Discrimination Against Women. MOVE on the other hand means Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere. This increases men’s comfort with seeing themselves as responsible, caring, and non-violent partners. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-13)
CHR-Caraga partners with Esperanza LGU in commemorating Human Rights Week
BUTUAN CITY (December 10) – In commemoration of the Human Rights Week pursuant to Republic Act 9201 declaring December 4 to 10 of every year as National Human Rights Week, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has partnered with the local government unit of the municipality of Esperanza in Agusan del Sur.
In a written statement sent to PIA, Atty. Marilyn Pintor, CHR-Caraga Regional Director emphasized the activity as part of the culmination day which coincides with the worldwide celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In Caraga region, this year’s culminating event dubbed as “Kaamulan”, is held today at the municipal gymnasium of Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.
Dignitaries from the New Zealand Human Rights Commission (NZHRC) and the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) will be the guests of honor who will be paying tribute to the Higaoanon tribe of Esperanza in relation to the CHRP-NZHRC Human Rights Community Development Project.
On the other hand, the event is part of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women spearheaded by the Gender and Development Coordinating Committee (GADCC), which kicked-off November 25, 2008.
This year’s celebration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights carries the theme “Dangal at Katarungan Para sa Ating Lahat” (Honor and Justice for all).
Signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on April 1, 2003, RA 9201 enjoins all government agencies, including government-owned and-controlled corporations to celebrate the week through simple and appropriate ceremonies and activities to make the people aware of their basic human rights in relation to the functions and services offered by these government instrumentalities.
The act also encourages all levels of education/learning institutions, both public and private to celebrate the week through simple and appropriate ceremonies and activities to propagate, particularly among the students, a human rights culture that aims at sustainable development in the country.
The national committee who will take the lead in the preparation and implementation of the guidelines on how to celebrate the week through simple and appropriate ceremonies and activities is headed by the CHR Chairperson as the Chairman, and CSC Chairperson – Vice Chairman.
Further, the committee members are composed of a representative of the following government agencies: Department of Education (DepEd), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Completing the members of the committee are one representative each from two human rights non-government organizations as members, to be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Commission on Human Rights. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-13)
RP to host 2008 Global Peace Festival
BUTUAN CITY (December 10) – The country will play host to the International Leadership Conference (ILC) as part of Global Peace Festival 2008 which will open tomorrow, December 11 and will run until December 14 at the Manila Hotel, Manila.
The Global Peace Festival, with the theme “One Family Under God”, aims to gather worldwide support for the peace building efforts and for implementing the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UNMDG).
The peace festival looks into ways in which the world can actually become one “global family” by bringing people together across the dividing lines of faith, ethnicity and national background. It is an occasion for those who have common vision for peace to share best practices, laud achievements and launch new activities together.
Last year, together with the Department of Education (DepEd) and other government and non-governmental organization – local and international – the committee held the grand staging of the Global Peace Festival 2007 also in Manila attended by 250,000 peacemakers. The activity touches the hearts of the tens of thousands of Filipinos and other foreign guests. The presence of many artists, government, civic, religious and youth leaders have truly made the event meaningful and festive.
This year, the Global Peace Festival will be staged in Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cagayan de Oro City, Roxas City, Cavite, Cabanatuan, Baguio and Pangasinan. To cap all these festivals, the Global Peace Festival main event will be held in Manila gathering 2-million like-minded individuals who support the vision of peace, harmony and solidarity.
During the four-day event, affiliates of Universal Federation (UPF) will hold the International Leadership Conference (ILC) on the theme “Toward a New Paradigm of Leadership and Good Governance” to gather top leaders from academe, the youth and religious sectors, as well as from the government and non-government organizations. Simultaneously, an enormous gathering of students will conduct clean-up drives in different parts of the country.
Festivities and competitions will abound during the festival, with lantern-making, singing, dancing and cheering competitions based on the festival’s theme. A colorful parade will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2008, starting from the Philippine Cultural Center to the Quirino Grandstand.
The Global Peace Festival 2008 is aimed at promoting unity and goodwill among all people. (Robert E. Roperos, PIA-13 with reports from UPF)
Let's fix the fixers
The Office of the Ombudsman and the Civil Service Commission have joined forces with the public in a war on fixers. Armed with the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, which took effect in September, the OMB and the CSC are launching on December 9, the International Anti-Corruption Day, the Fix the Fixers Campaign to solicit information on fixers from their victims as well as upright civil servants.
In the Fix the Fixers Campaign, citizens can report fixers by text or phone to the OMB and the CSC, which shall investigate and prosecute the offenders. The key details needed are 1) the fixer's name, 2) the name and location of the government office where he operates, 3) the date and type of transactions he offers to 'fix.' The tips can be texted or called in to hotline numbers given at the end of this statement.
The Anti-Red Tape Law (R.A. 9485) imposes stiff penalties on fixers: imprisonment of as long as six years, or a fine of up to P200,000, or both. Government employees who engage in fixing or collusion with fixers are subject to dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public service, on top of the criminal penalties. Let the fixers be warned: don't risk years of prison and big fines just to skim a few hundred pesos.
In this Anti-Fixer Campaign we appeal for the people's vigilance and support, as we do for other major initiatives of the nationwide anti-red tape campaign. Already, the four oversight agencies of the campaign — CSC, OMB, the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, and the Development Academy of the Philippines — have been tapping the views and expertise of clientele and stakeholders in streamlining the frontline services of national agencies. As these procedures are published, with deadlines, fees and requirements clearly set forth, the public can report violations and delays, which are also punishable under R.A. 9485.
In addition, we support efforts by the government and Congress to raise the salaries of public sector personnel under the Salaries Standardization Law Phase 3 resolution. With higher government pay especially in the tough economic environment, there will be less incentive and pressure for public servants to engage in corruption.
The Anti-Fixer Campaign is our chance to prove that when the government and the public unite to achieve a common good, we can make a big difference. We call on all sectors to support this campaign and be essential partners in reforming public service delivery.
SAMA-SAMA NATING SUGPUIN ANG KATIWALIAN!
HOTLINE NUMBERS:
Office of the Ombudsman
(02) 9274102 or 92724040926-6994703
Civil Service Commission
(02) 93201110917-8398272
PUBLICATIONS AND MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION
Public Assistance and Information Office
Civil Service Commission
IBP Road, Batasan Hills, Quezon City
Telefax No.: 931-8119; 931-4180
http://www.csc.gov.%20ph/
