Families of five barangay officials make their plea with peace advocates here in Davao for the release of their relatives captured by the New People’s Army in Sabu, Loreto, Agusan del Sur. The officials were captured last October on allegations they are members of paramilitary groups that harassed the community. The National Democratic Front orders the release of the captured officials after the latter’s apology. . (davaotoday.com photo by John Rizle L. Saligumba)
YOLANDA VOLUNTEERS BATCH TWO
The second batch of Davao City 911 retrieval and medical personnel bound for Tacloban gets blessings from military chaplain Fr. Cirilo Bermudez last Thursday at Almendras Gym. Behind Fr. Bermudez is Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who urge people to volunteer and donate for the relief and recovery of Visayas cities and towns hit by Typhoon Yolanda as its local government has been paralyzed by the devastation, and the death toll has reached more than 2,200 people. (davaotoday.com photo by Medel V. Hernani)
Some of the 911 personnel in their uniform as they get set to go as the second batch of the city’s volunteer work for retrieval and medical operations in Tablocan City. Mayor Rodrigo Duterte send 55 personnel who arrived in Tacloban Monday, but will return to Davao when this second batch arrives to take over their roles. Local relief and international aid are racing against time to a now restless populace in Tacloban who are in need of food and relief. (davaotoday.com photo by Medel V. Hernani)
This contributed photo from Tacloban City shows people carting off goods from Robinson’s Mall last Monday in plain sight of an armed security guard who could only watch . Chaos and hunger has stricken this city struck by Typhoon Yolanda last Friday, as no clear system has been implemented to carry off the dead and take care of the many survivors. (Photo contributed by Arthur Yap)
Davawenyos light candles at Freedom Park during Wednesday’s International Day of Solidarity for Yolanda Victims. Nearly a week after the devastation, the nation has now criticized the government’s slow response to the humanitarian crisis in Leyte and Samar. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)
Church people and progressive groups converged at Freedom Park on Wednesday night as they offer prayers for Typhoon Yolanda victims. The groups also gathered cash and other donations which they will bring to Leyte next week through the Lihok Katawhan coalition. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)
A resident of SIR gets a helping hand from AnakBayan leader Mariel Moralde in carrying a basketfull of used clothes she is donating for Yolanda survivors in Leyte and Samar. Youth activists went around communities Wednesday during the International Day of Solidarity for Yolanda Victims. (davaotoday.com photo by Earl O. Condeza)
A sari-sari store owner contributes her share for a relief drive for Yolanda victims staged by youth activists who went around urban poor communities asking for donations. (davaotoday.com photo by Earl O. Condeza)
A vendor at the city’s Bankerohan Public Market drops his donation to an activist going around for contributions to help victims of super typhoon Yolanda that leveled cities in Eastern Visayas. Donations and aid from local to international groups have been pouring in but delivering these to the victims has been a problem. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)
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)