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.
Kaugmaon executive director Florie Butiong-Tacang said their campaign has only reached ten per cent success in minimizing child labor working on hazardous conditions.
Their study showed cases where children worked in packing urea fertilizer in a refinery, and others cleaning bottles for a recycling plant. In both cases, children worked without protective gear and even worked overnight for days.
“Are authorities really that insensitive to children’s rights, that children can become collateral damage to military offensives?” asked Rius Valle, Children’s Rehabilitation Center Southern Mindanao spokesperson
Waving flags and donning costumes from different nations, pupils paraded for the United Nations Day celebration along SM Annex in Ecoland. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandate)
