NPA frees 3 captives in SurSur
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, June
4 (PIA) – Three civilians who were kidnapped by the Communist NPA Terrorists
(CNTs) last May 30 were released Monday morning.
Barangay Captain of Brgy. Mampi
Danilo Duaso relayed the information to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The victims, Wendil Delicuna,
Jeffrey Delicuna and Angelo Duazo, were released at the vicinity of Sitio
Banahao, Brgy. Maitom, Tandag City.
Lt. Jonald Romorosa, spokesperson
of 36th Infantry Battalion (36IB), said the relentless combat and pursuit
operation of the 36IB to rescue the kidnapped victims forced the CNTs to
release Delicuna, Delicuna and Duazo.
However, the CNTs still held
captive Ryard Badiang who is now being used as a human shield against pursuing
government troops.
Earlier, the military reported
that there were seven civilians abducted by the CNTs at the Tandag City River
while drifting the cut logs. Later on same day, four of the seven captives were
released.
Romorosa clarified that prior to
the abduction of seven civilians on May 30, a certain Jeffrey Delicuna was
first captured by the CNTs around 7:30 AM on the same day.
Romorosa added that the victims
are all residents of Sitio Ibuan, Mampi, Lanuza, the first community in the
province that declared the CNTs and their organizations as persona non-grata on
March 2019.
Meanwhile, 36IB commanding officer
Lt. Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said “the CNTs are clearly trying to recover Sitio
Ibuan by threatening the community thru kidnapping.”
"They have poisoned the minds
of the innocent civilians for them to stop their support to the government
particularly in the operationalization of CAA patrol base in their community.
Moreover, our units in the area are continuously conducting pursuit operations
to rescue the remaining civilian who is still being held and used as human
shield by the CNTs,” he added. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)
80 AgNor youth join leadership summit
By 1Lt Roel T.
Maglalang
The summit, with the theme
“Kabatan-onan Hiusahon aron Kaugmaon ug Kahapsay Maangkon" (Unite the
Youth for Brighter Future) was aimed to develop the youth to become responsible
citizens and advocates of the government’s peace and development initiatives.
The activity included a series of
lectures coming from different stakeholders, small group discussions, taebo
exercise, campfire, Cultural Night and Team-building activities.
“The YLS has a big impact in
areas having numerous New Peoples Army (NPA) mass supporters and it is also an
activity that contributes much in the development of Brgy Olave,” said Felix
Balansag, Municipal Administrator of Buenavista, representing Municipal
Mayor Norbert B. Pagaspas.
"You can create goodwill and
unity amongst yourselves, YLS focuses on your holistic development,"
Balansag told the youth participants.
Balansag also thanked the
Philippine Army for crafting the framework for the youth and for leaving a
legacy to their minds.
"Hence, the LGU of Buenavista
will always support every youth activity in our area,” Balansag said.
Meanwhile, Keefee Blue Leonar, SK
Provincial Federated President representing governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell
Amante-Matba said that “Just like you, I was once a leader during my school
days. As a leader, it allows me to hone my leadership skills."
"As a youth, this activity is
not the end, rather, it is the beginning of greater responsibility. May you
share and apply what you have learned in this activity to other youths,” Leonar
added.
Meanwhile, Ltc Francisco L Molina
Jr, Commanding Officer, 23IB said that the activity helped to develop the youth
to become responsible citizens who will help the country achieve peace and
development.
“If the youth will be raised,
developed and molded properly, then the peace and development that we longed
for will be achieved,” Molina said.
“The kind of leaders we will have
depends on the kind of upbringing we show to them today. If we will nurture
them properly today, we are assured that they will soon become good citizens of
our country,” Molina added. (CMO Officer, 23IB PA/PIA Agusan del Norte)
AgNor town gets drug-free status
By Arvin Reyes Silvosa
JABONGA, Agusan del Norte, June 4
-- The Municipality of Jabonga in the province of Agusan del Norte was declared
as “Drug-Free Municipality” by the Barangay Drug Clearing Program - Regional
Oversight Committee (BDCP-ROC) in a ceremony held Monday, here.
Thirteen barangays of the
municipality of Jabonga were declared Drug-Free on April 29, 2019 by virtue of
ROC Resolution No. 04-24 Series of 2019.
The two Barangays of San Jose and
San Pablo were validated as drug-cleared, in 2016 and 2018, respectively. The
addition of the 13 barangays brought the total of 15 barangays now officially
declared “drug-free," making the municipality in a drug-free status.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA) Caraga Region awarded the Certificates of Drug-Cleared Barangays
to the Punong Barangays as the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC)
Chairpersons.
Consequently, the Certificate of
Drug-Free Municipality was also conferred to Mayor Jasmin F. Monton as the
Chairperson of the Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC).
Jabonga is the third town declared
as drug-free municipality in the Province of Agusan del Norte.
Mayor Monton expressed gratitude
to the BADACs and the MADAC for their commitment towards intensifying the
campaign against illegal drugs as well as ensuring that compliance with the law
prevails.
She emphasized that all
stakeholders should always put premium on observing and adhering to due process
and the rule of law in order to ensure that the future of the youth and the
community as a whole is safe and secured and free from all forms of abuse and
danger.
Presenting the certificates in
lieu of PDEA Caraga Regional Director Aileen T. Lovitos was Assistant Regional
Director Irvin John R. Coderis together with IA I Majorie M. Veso, PDEA Agusan
del Norte Provincial Officer and staff.
The ceremony was facilitated by
Arvin Reyes Silvosa of the DILG Jabonga Municipal Office.
The ceremonial declaration was
subsequently endorsed to the Sangguniang Bayan of Jabonga during its regular
session through a resolution adopting the drug-free status of the municipality.
According to ARD Coderis, the
municipality, consisting of the 15 barangays, was found to be compliant with
the parameters set forth in declaring a drug-free community and are monitored
every three months.
Said parameters include having
existing anti-drug campaign programs; community-based drug rehabilitation
program; and education awareness program.
He emphasized that all sectors of
the society must work hand-in-hand to maintain this drug-free status through
constant and vigilant monitoring and reporting as well as legwork in
intensifying its campaign against illegal drugs, or else the LGUs may lose
their drug-free status and may be subject to an anti-illegal drug operation to
apprehend personalities indicated in the watch list. (DILG-Jabonga, Agusan del
Norte/PIA Agusan del Norte)
PNP Caraga gets 13 motorcycles
Police Brigadier General Ernesto
V. Flores, Deputy Regional Director for Administration, spearheaded the
blessing and turn-over of 13 units of brand new 125cc Honda XRM motorcycle to
be distributed to Provincial Mobile Force Companies of the region.
Regional Mobile Force Battalion
13, Agusan del Norte Police Provincial Office (PPO), Agusan del Sur PPO,
Surigao del Sur PPO, Surigao del Norte PPO, and Dinagat Islands PPO will
receive two units each of Honda XRM, while Butuan City Police Office will
receive one unit.
The arrival of the mobility asset
from the National Headquarters is part of the PNP’s Capability Enhancement
Program.
“Our mobile forces have now
additional mobility asset to be used during the conduct of activities, performance
of law enforcement functions and other policing works. We will reciprocate this
blessing through more improved police services,” PBGen. Flores said.
He urged the police personnel to
ensure the proper maintenance and cleanliness of the motorcycles. (PNP
Caraga/PIA Caraga)
DSWD-Caraga, partner agencies strengthen OFW services
By Mike Ariel Plaza
BUTUAN CITY, June 4 -- With the
primordial objective to clarify and strengthen the programs and services
concerning the migrant workers, the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD)-Caraga has gathered recently more than 50 overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs) and representatives from different national government agencies
into the Regional Consultation Forum on Overseas Filipinos and Families here.
“Today, the Philippines is the
major source of labor migrants. However, most overseas Filipino workers are
returning because of the rampant physical, sexual, mental and financial abuses
caused by their employers or even because of illegal recruitments,” Murih said.
Murih added that because of these
alarming cases, the government and non-government agencies exert efforts and
continue to develop laws, policies, and guidelines to address the needs of the
migrants and OFWs.
“Each agency has its own mandates
to deliver and programs and services to provide the overseas workers. This
consultation forum is a way of presenting these programs and shed light on
OFW’s issues and concerns especially those which remain unresolved today,” she
said.
Director Priscilla Razon, former
social welfare attache to Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Director Perlita
Panganiban, technical support division chief of the International Social
Services Office, discussed the importance of the social welfare attaches to the
different countries to make sure that Filipino workers are heard and assisted.
Razon said that most of the
problems of the OFWs are inflicted by their employer and it is with these
situations that they should seek help to the different government agencies.
“These problems are always
difficult to handle but they (OFWs) should always be reminded that these
agencies and the DSWD are always willing to help them get out of these
situations,” Razon said.
The deployment of social welfare
attaches is pursuant to Executive Order 287 Series of 2004, “directing the
deployment/posting of social welfare attaches in selected diplomatic posts with
large concentration of overseas Filipino workers” and by Republic Act 10022 or
an Act Amending Republic Act No. 8042, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers
and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 which provides the mandate to improve the
country’s standard of protection and promotion of the welfare of overseas
Filipinos and their Families.
The social welfare attaches help
migrant Filipinos and other overseas Filipino nationals who are in crisis
situation and in need of special protection especially for irregular and
distressed OFWs, such as victims of sexual and physical abuse, maltreatment,
mistreatment, trafficking, marital conflicts and non-marital relationships and
children who were abandoned and needing special protection.
The participants also presented
their personal, family, employer, and agency concerns which were then addressed
by representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),
Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of Immigration, Overseas Workers Welfare
Association (OWWA), Technical Education and Skills Development and Authority
(TESDA), and Philippine Overseas Employment Association (POEA).
Most of the addressed issues
centered on educational and livelihood assistance that many former OFWs need
after deciding to come back home.
One of the participants has
expressed her gratefulness to the different agencies after she has been
assisted during the physical abuse she had to go through.
“Daku dyud akong pasalamat sa POLO
(Philippine Overseas Labor Office) sa Kuwait kay sila ang nahimo nakong
dangpanan sa akong kalisod didto (I am thankful with the assistance POLO has
extended me following my negative experiences there),” she said.
POLO acts as the operating arm of
DOLE for the administration and enforcement of its policies and programs
applicable to the OFWs.
In the performance of its
services, the POLOs work in partnership with relevant Philippine government
agencies host government including the DSWD, Filipino communities, and NGOs
that monitor and assist our overseas workforce.
The consultation forum ended with
the distribution of sacks of rice and grocery items to the participants. (DSWD-13/PIA-Caraga)
OWWA Caraga to hold 24th Migrant Workers Day in Cabadbaran City
BUTUAN CITY, June 4 – The Migrant
Workers Day celebration in Caraga region is all set on June 8, 2019 at the
Cabadbaran City Gymnasium, Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.
The event will be spearheaded by
the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Caraga.
Approximately 600 individuals are
expected to attend the said event composed of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
- active and inactive and their families, social partners and other invited
guests.
The program aims to provide our
OFWs relevant activities promoting the importance of spending quality time and
togetherness amongst OFWs and their families.
This is the government’s response
to the great contribution of our OFWs in keeping the economy vibrant through
their sacrifices and endurance in working overseas.
In line with this, OWWA Regional
Welfare Office Caraga will undertake various activities such as the OFW Singing
Idol dedicated only to member-OFWs with active and inactive OWWA membership
status, parlor games, raffle prizes, and other fun-filled activities that will
bring forth excitement, dynamism, and merriment among the participants.
Furthermore, partner government
line agencies like Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Overseas
Employment Administration, Department of Social Welfare and Development,
Department of Trade and Industry, Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority, Employees Compensation Commission, Maritime Industry Authority,
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Home Mutual Development Fund and
Social Security System will provide substantial information on its various
program and services that will be of help to the participants.
The celebration is pursuant to
Republic Act 8042 otherwise known as Magna Carta for OFWs which was enacted on
June 7, 1995, and recently amended by virtue of R.A. 10022 declaring every 7th
day of June as the Migrant Workers’ Day. (OWWA/PIA-Caraga)
