Two Agusan del Sur minors who were accused and detained of purportedly taking part in the killing of a barangay captain were released from a youth facility here Wednesday. Their mothers, however, wanted justice to grind on the militia men and Army personnel who allegedly tortured their sons.
The two teenage lumad minors detained last July 22 in Loreto, Agusan del Sur, are finally free to go as the murder complaint against them by the military were dismissed by the provincial state prosecutor. The minors, Alan, aged 16; and John, 17 (both not real names) were flagged down by soldiers and paramilitary in their village and were reportedly tortured the night before they were detained. (davaotoday.com photo by John Rizle L. Saligumba)
These five kids are awardees from the Davao region’s four provinces and Davao City for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Pantawid Exemplary Child 2013. The DSWD program gives monthly cash grants of P 1,400 to school children’s family as long as they perform well at school. A total of 192,881 households in Davao Region are beneficiaries. But a report from think-tank IBON Foundation questioned its effectivity in alleviating poverty, as they cited government audit that some P 4 billion of the program remained unliquidated and P 50 million were misspent on non-beneficiaries. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)
Older sister smiles while younger sister stares emptily at their evacuation center in Zamboanga City’s Enriquez Memorial Complex, two months after the Zamboanga siege. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)
photos by ACE R. MORANDANTE DAVAO TODAY Zamboanga City – Two months after the Zamboanga siege, the ruins of Santa…
“Long-term counselling is needed because it will take a long time for them to overcome their trauma and fears. Not all children can cope, some are still afraid of the slightest noise, from fallen cabinet or things. Others who see men in fatigue uniforms thought there is another war,” said (Children’s Rehabilitation Center) CRC spokesperson Jacquiline Ruiz
Balsa noted that 24,000 families have been displaced due to the conflict, 24,000 schoolchildren affected and 46,000 made jobless. International groups said this comprised a humanitarian crisis.
Ukay-ukay vendors told Davao Today they were taken by surprise with the confiscation as they were abiding by the Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s policy to occupy one-third of the sidewalk. “We put our wares on the side. I didn’t expect them to do this. They even took items we kept away,” said Nurhata Mama, who said she has been selling the ukay-ukay for years.
One of the protesters raises his placard during a picket on Tuesday at the office of the Commission on Human Rights, demanding for investigation of victims of extrajudicial killings. (davaotoday.com photo by Earl O. Condeza)
The family of the slain eight-year boy reacted strongly to the decision of the government prosecutor who thrashed its murder complaint against soldiers they claimed to have been in the area at the time of the incident.
