Duterte calls on NPA to treat five captive soldiers humanely

DAVAO CITY, July 2 (PIA) Mayor Rodrigo Duterte urged the New People’s Army unit behind the abduction of five soldiers at  Paquibato District in June 17 to treat them accordingly.

He believed the rebels would not torture the soldiers in the same manner that they treated previous captives humanely.

Duterte pushed for the rebels to observe the proper conduct of treating prisoners by observing the provisions of the Geneva Convention.

He admitted that the welfare of the soldiers is one of the concerns that have been bothering him since he assumed office since Monday.

Duterte said he does not know yet where to look for the beleaguered soldiers.

“I do not want to talk to the military about this because I do not want to be controlled,” he said.

Duterte revealed during his initial talks to the rebels not to hurt the soldiers.

He said he will one day go to the rebels’ lair to talk to Leoncio Pitao alias Kumander Parago about the situation of the solders.

He said saving the soldiers is a winding pursuit.

“The armed people may be the ones who held the soldiers, but there is also a need to talk to the National Democratic Front which controls the overall situation,” Duterte said.

He also assured the family of the soldiers that the captives are being treated well.

Duterte said he has Kumander Parago’s commitment not to hurt the soldiers.

“I have the word of Parago.  He is a man of his word.  We deal with honor here.  Until then, we will find ways to link up with the rebels,” he said.

Duterte remained hopeful that the soldiers will be released eventually.

Corporal Emmanuel Quezon, Privates First Class Ronald Gura, Bernie Padilla, and Donato Estandia and Private Marteniano Pasiagas, Jr., all members of the peace and development team under the 60th Infantry Battalion were going to the market to buy food supplies for their scheduled feeding program when they were held by the rebels who were manning the roadblock.

On the soldiers’ commanding officer was spared after he jumped off the motorcycle unto a ravine, when he noticed the unusual behaviour of the armed group manning the barricade.

Families of soldiers sought the help of the church group, “Sowing the Seeds for Peace,” to facilitate the freedom of the kin.

The group facilitated the soldiers’ families with Duterte who assured the soldiers’ safety even in the hands of the rebels.  (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

Tagum’s peace, security among Rellon’s top agenda for 1st 100 days

By: City of Tagum Information Office

Genuine peace, security and safety for all the Tagumeños will be among the top priority for the 1st 100 days of the administration of Mayor Allan L. Rellon, stressing that these factors will eradicate the culture of fear and would encourage investors to do business in this bustling urban hub.

Mayor Rellon disclosed this in front of the renewed and newly-hired Security Management Officers (SMO) and Traffic Management Officers (TMO) last June 29, 2013 at Miko’s Brew. Both entities will now be the official name of the now-defunct Civil Security Unit (CSU) and the Traffic Management Unit (TMU) which is both operated by the previous administration.

Mayor Rellon is hopeful this will herald a new and effective system, thus appointing key persons to manage the newly- created units in-charge of securing peace and order in the city.

The local chief executive named Police Officer Elmer L. Rellon, Sr. as head of the SMO, who called on his subordinates to fulfill their duty responsibly. He added that they should be accountable to Tagumeños to whom they are called to serve.

The SMO chief also briefed his subordinates on the 11 General Orders, the do’s and don’ts and the general information and their chain of authority.

The SMO is composed of police auxiliaries, security aides, and school guards.

The Tagum City Police Office- Traffic Division will be augmented by the city-paid traffic officers and will be supervised by Police Officer Angelito de Castro.

Last Saturday, Mayor Rellon personally supervised the respective post assignments in vital places across the city, including schools, PNP substations and government buildings.

Prior to that, they were briefed by the City Human Resource Management Office on the rules governing the employees and the salient points of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials.

The local chief executive bared that he is also planning to enroll these security and traffic officers to the basic military training program anytime soon.

Aside from this, he also made mention about the city's economy and the lowering of taxes as among his agenda on his first 100 days in office. (Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum)

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, a shared responsibility- Defense chief

DAVAO CITY, July 1 (PIA)- Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, chair of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council urged all sectors of government and the citizenry to share in the responsibility in the risk reduction and management.

In a statement read by Loreto Rirao, director of the Office of Civil Defense XI during the launching program of the National Disaster Consciousness Month at the People’s Park here, he urged all stakeholders to take the whole-of-nation approach in mitigating the impact of calamities to communities.

This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme, “ Ligtas na Bayan, Maunlad na Pamayanan.”

Gazmin said every government agency is required to provide the best services for the safety and welfare of the resident through the spirit of helping one another through Bayanihan.

“Let our experiences in previous disasters guide ask in perfecting the craft of disaster risk reduction,” he said.

Gazmin said government functionaries must not only tag along in their involvement in risk reduction and management but must share and contribute proactively to the effort to save lives.

He said that though the Philippines has better performance in risk reduction and management of disaster compared to other Asian countries,  the country has to exert more effort in delivering dynamic and transparent efforts in its activities on the communities.

“Let’s continue to perfect the craft or disaster risk reduction and management,” Gazmin said. 

The celebration of the National Disaster Consciousness Month in Davao City was preceded by the raising of the balloons and a motorcade on selected thoroughfares of the city ending at the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

DavNor Gov braces for further impact of climate change in province

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, July 01 (PIA):   Adapting to climate change and becoming resilient to disaster risk are challenges that Gov. Rodolfo P. del Rosario is bracing for, in his last three years as governor.

 In his inaugural address Sunday (June 30) at the RDR Gym and Cultural Center,  del Rosario called attention to the “veritable challenge” of transforming human development programs “to be climate change adaptive and disaster risk resilient.”

He pushed for such move as he warned of possible loss of development gains  that his administration had worked for, to  the adverse effects of global climate change.

While he cited Davao del Norte to have ranked among the fast-growing provinces in the country in the last 46 years, he revealed the geo-statistics study of the Department of Agriculture (DA) which found out that 66 percent of Davao del Norte’s land area or 205,000 hectares, is vulnerable to flood, drought and landslides.

“This means, the hard-earned gains we have today are likely to be swept away in a blink of an eye,”  he said.

Del Rosario related his concern to  the implementation of Climate Change Act  (CCA) and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) which he viewed as twin major policies of President Benigno S. Aquino III that would redefine the global and national priorities.

“We  must be able to align to these priorities to be able to catch the windfall of public investments,”  he said.

While noting the typhoon path to have moved closer to the Davao Region,  Del Rosario pointed out the need  to strengthen the positive behavior  and the culture of safety among his constituents.

He expected to see engineering works to result in reduced incidence of flooding;  the agricultural innovations to mitigate the impact of climate change especially to livelihood of communities; and the sense of preparedness imbibed in the consciousness of  the people.

Del Rosario hoped for response to disaster  be made “swift, efficient and strictly, zero-casualty”  by collaborating with government agencies, non-government organizations and the private sector.

While  mapping out pro-active moves to mitigate  the effects of climate change,  Del Rosario still keeps sight of his P.E.O.P.L.E.  development agenda, giving priority on health, education and income opportunities.

He placed his agenda on people empowerment,  public-private partnership and strengthening links to the world as strategic  means of facilitating the achievement of his development priorities.

In his last three years,  Del Rosario also intended to push for road developments connecting Davao del Norte to neighboring provinces;  to bring back the greenery of mountains in support of the 1 billion trees program of Pres. Aquino;  to support efforts to answer  needs of local schools for new facility; to continue improving the provincial hospitals; to improve the productivity of farmers;   and to realize the target outcomes of the Aus-Aid assisted Provincial Roads Management Facility (PRMF) in roads management, human resource management, internal operations and revenue generation.

Del Rosario encouraged people’s participation and cooperation in working out the realization of his goals.  (PIA XI/ Jeanevive D. Abangan)

Veteran and rookie LGU chiefs assume offices

DAVAO CITY, July 1 (PIA) Mayor Rodrigo Duterte took his oath of office on his seventh term as chief executive thanking the people for their support in all programs of city government that catapulted the city to progress.

Speaking to the people during his inaugural address, he said the firecracker ban, anti-smoking and curfew for minors’ ordinances would not have created an impact without the people’s cooperation.

“Whatever gains and awards we amassed would never been realized without the support and cooperation that you the people, gave the city’s leadership,” Duterte said.

He underscored that the city is indeed gifted with good people, not just its reach flora and fauna, fertile fields and pristine waters, and abundant natural resources.

Duterte said Davao City has reached its greatness now because the people care, share and work with the local government every step of the way in pursuit of quality way of life and development.

“You were there in times of calamities both natural and man-made to help us without being asked.  You lighten the burden, fortified our grit and strengthen our resolve and lifted our spirit,” he said.

Duterte once again urged the people to support him in his new mandate as city mayor not only in running a government for the people, by the people and of the people.

He said his leadership will also be for the least, the last and the lost Filipinos.

Duterte also reiterated his hard-stance against all forms of criminality.

“As a matter of policy, we will intensify our efforts in this campaign.  I have said it before and I will say it again.  Criminals have no place in the city except in jails, detention centers and God forbid, in the funeral parlors,” he said.

Duterte said criminals will die if they fight authorities.             

He also warned people in the drug trade and perpetrators of heinous crimes to either stop or leave the city.

Meantime, Mayor Roel Rivera of General Santos City has envisioned his city to be the agro-industrial, financial and service hub of the south. 

Speaking during his inaugural address as the new chief executive, he assured to deliver top quality service that will spur inclusive growth that impacts to lives of ordinary people.

“General Santos City under my leadership will go beyond its image as Tuna Capital of the country by accelerating value-added processes in packaging industry, improve local facilities like airport, the Makar Wharf and the establishment of a stable source of power and introduce alternative renewable energy,” Rivera said.

He said he will also put premium on improving the competencies of the local government in order to continue working effectively and possess the ability to bounce back even during crisis situations.

Rivera said under his leadership, General Santos embraces modernization in progress while preserving its socio-cultural and political heritage.

He also stressed that public safety and security will be given more importance under his watch as he urged for public cooperation.

“We need to work together as one government unit.  We cannot do this alone, even all other elected government officials cannot do this alone,” Rivera said.

He also said he will continue to purge partnership with nearby provinces to improve more the fishing industry, tourism and public safety. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

Newly-installed officials start working for a more resilient DavNor

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, July 1 -– The newly-inducted provincial officials of Davao del Norte have rolled up their sleeves in attaining climate change adaptive and disaster resilient communities to protect the development gains of the province.

Governor Rodolfo del Rosario on his inaugural address last Sunday, June 30, 2013, said that his new administration shall expand the P.E.O.P.L.E. development strategy and implement programs that boost disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and rehabilitation in the next three years.

“We wish to see our communities become better and better prepared,” he said, at the jampacked newly-refurbished RDR Gym and Cultural Center.

Del Rosario hinted the effects of climate change could hamper the development momentum of the province, which is touted as one of the fast-growing provinces in Mindanao today.       

The last-termer Governor said the impact of Typhoon Pablo last year served as a wake up call, since the province is listed among the top 10 provinces in the country that are vulnerable to disasters.

He cited a recent geo-statistics study that disclosed 66 percent of the total land area of the province or 205,000 hectares are prone to floods, drought and landslides, which are the three most prominent effects of global climate change.

Yet, the Governor said the province shall firm up the positive behavior and culture of safety among the Dabaonon people to ensure the hard-earned success of the province will not come to naught.

Del Rosario assured better health, education and income opportunities shall remain the top priorities of his last term.

Among the big ticket projects that del Rosario will pursue for the next three years include the completion of road projects, such as the Kapalong-Talingod Highway, the Km. 0, Asuncion-Veruela, Agusan Sur Road, and the Mahayahay, Panabo City-Paquibato, Davao City Road.

The Governor is also keen on working for the conversion of the Semong-Florida, Kapalong Road connecting all the way to Loreto, Agusan del Sur, into a national road.

Regional Trial Court Branch 2 Judge Ma. Susana Baua administered the oath of office of the governor, along with that of Vice Gov. Victorio Suaybaguio, 1st District Congressman Antonio Rafael del Rosario, 2nd District Congressman Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo, Jr. and all the board members of the two districts.  (Noel Baguio, PIO Davao del Norte)

Davao City police needs cars, SWAT gears, radios

DAVAO CITY July 1 (PIA)- The Davao City Police chief has drawn up a wish list of police equipment for newly-sworn Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

These wish list include patrol vehicles, SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) gears and new communication radios for the city's police force.

DCPO chief Senior Superintendent Ronald Dela Rosa said that foremost among the needs are new patrol cars for the police stations. He said that the Tamaraw FX patrol cars being used by the City are already 10 years old and are fit for replacement.

He said it would be enough if the police stations would have one to three units of these patrol cars but ideally police stations should have about six patrol vehicles. DCPO has about 12 police stations.

According to its website, the DCPO has one mobile patrol group with about 20 vehicles and is tasked to conduct mobile police visibility and respond to police emergencies.

Dela Rosa prefers the simple AUVs (Asian Utility Vehicles) such as the Jitney Type Tamaraw FX since it could accommodate many passengers. Although he wishes the police could also receive Isuzu Crosswind or Toyota Innova patrol vehicles.

Aside from vehicles Dela Rosa also would need equipment for its 30-man SWAT team like M4 rifles, Kevlar vests, tear gas and stun grenades. He said the recent incident when a SWAT team stormed the hide-out of suspected drug-pushers; the SWAT team have used the last of their tear gas.

"If an incident like that would happen we no longer have any tear gas to use." Dela Rosa said.

The DCPO chief also said they would need new radios for their communication systems and is including it in his wishlist which he would give to City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Dela Rosa did not give the budget for his wishlist but he said the 30 pieces of M4 rifles alone would cost around P20-million.

Although the City Mayor and Dela Rosa have not yet set their meeting, the City Mayor during his oath-taking speech yesterday (June 30) has re-emphasized his tough policy against criminality.

Dela Rosa also bared that DCPO personnel will also be receiving their brand-new Glock sidearms. Last year the Philippine National Police purchased 60,000 Glock 17 Gen4 9mm pistols for the country's policemen. (PIA/RG Alama)