At age 10, Liling had her first sexual experience with her boyfriend three years her senior. A year later she ran away from home and joined a gang that engaged in prosititution.
On the other hand, Año denied the accusations. “We never order such things. We equally condemn this act, and whoever the perpetrator of this should be apprehended and made to answer for the crime,” said Año in a text message sent to Davao Today.
Some children victims of prostitution now also serve as “pimps” for other children.
A peasant organizer was shot by unidentified gunmen right after a forum on the people’s initiative against “pork barrel” in Tagum City.
Trianga said that government must support their call for sustainable farming so that peasants will be able to rebuild their lives.
A Thailand-based international advocacy group is urging governments belonging to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to conduct speedy investigations into cases of enforced disappearances “to bring an immediate end to enforced disappearances and ensure justice for the victims and their families.”
Militant human rights organizations have claimed that violations of civilian rights continue to happen in Mindanao that would indicate that President Benigno Aquino III did not live up to his promises of a “tuwid na daan (straight path)”.
At the time of his death, Butalid was the second broadcast journalist to be killed in Tagum City since 1996.
He recalled one time the soldiers came and asked him to go to their camp, which he refused.
“It’s high time that teachers will be valued for their untiring work and service and they will be feted on the culmination of World Teachers’ Day on October 5,” DepEd Davao del Norte Superintendent Josephine Fadul told DavaoToday.
