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CHR-CAR Leads  Advocacy on Juvenile Justice and Children’s Rights

          
            In its bid to champion the advocacy on children's rights,  CHR-CAR joins the nation in celebrating Children's Month with a line up of lectures and activities for October.

            Since its approval on April 28, 2006, Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act is the topic most requested by government agencies from CHR-CAR for orientation and training.  In the inter-agency celebration of Children’s Month this October, lectures on RA 9344 and Rights of the Child are CHR-CAR’s  main contribution as reflected in a long list of activities undertaken by the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children where CHR-CAR is an active member.

 

            Thru its focal person on children Ms. Brigida Cecilia Abratique,  coordination was made on the conduct of orientation seminar on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and RA 9344 at the different schools in Baguio and Benguet which include the following: tertiary level: University of Baguio and Benguet State University; secondary level:  Baguio City National High School- Quirino Annex, La Trinidad National High School and Benguet National High School; and elementary level:  Lucban Elementary School and Rizal Elementary School;

CHR-CAR also lead the orientation on the

salient features of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9344 through Atty. Russel Ma-ao in a briefing during the regular meeting of the RCWC on 6 October at the DSWD-CAR Conference Hall.  Also tackled on the same meeting is Children’s Environment Health which was delivered by a representative from of the

Department of Health;

            Being an active member in the implementation of the Early Childhood Care and Development Law, CHR-CAR will actively participate in the Regional Awarding Ceremony for the Child Friendly Municipalities on October 26 which will be held in Baguio City;

            Ms. Brigida Cecilia R. Abratique, focal person on children gave a lecture on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) during the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Planning Workshop for the Province of Benguet.  This was held on October 9 in Aringay, La Union and was attended by some forty five (45) Social Welfare Officers, Health Workers and Planning Officers representing the Provincial and Municipal Council for the Welfare of Children.  In same venue, the infant and maternal health component of the ECCD was discussed by a DOH representative and the Child Friendly Movement was tackled by Director Dulfie Tobias-Shalim of DSWD-CAR.

Apart from the celebration of Children’s

Month, advocacy on the welfare and rights of children has always been a priority for CHR-CAR that its is already  incorporated in the regular Human Rights Module which CHR-CAR advocates to priority sectors.  Aside from the RCWC, CHR-CAR is also an active member of the Juvenile Justice Network (JJN) under the Advocacy and Case Management Committee with Spl. Investigators Bienvenido Reano and Aloy Igopen as focal persons, respectively. In the Anti-Child Abuse Network (ACAN), Atty. Russel Ma-ao actively participates in the Advocacy Committee.

Prepared by:                                                             

MARLYN G. PALANGDAO 
Information Officer II 

Noted by:

ATTY. RUSSEL L. MA-AO
Regional HR Director

 

 

LIST OF CURRENT AND UPCOMING ACTIVITIES


A. PROMOTION, EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Programs for the local Government Unit (LGU)

          1. RBA and BHRAC Orientation during the Evaluation of the Barangay Council for the protection of Children (BCPC) and the Barangay Public Safety Plan (BPSP) of the 128 barangays in Baguio City. The activity was attended by the Punong Barangays and Barangays Secretaries. It was conducted at the Sen. Nene Pimentel Hall, DILG-CAR,Scheduled in four cluster as follows:

September 9, 2004 AM (District 1-5)
September 9, 2004 PM (District 6-10)
September 10, 2004 PM (District 11-15)
September 10, 2004 PM (16-20)

          2. Regular barangays visits at the diffirent barangays in Baguio City in coordination with the children and Women's Desk of the Baguio City Police Office and the DILG-Baguio City Office. This is an activity of the Baguio Child Abuse Unit Training Committee with Atty. Joselyn B. Castillo as Chairman, purposely to reach out directly to the Barangay level for the Orientation on the Rights of Children and Women, Rigth to Development through the Rights-Based Aproach (BHRAC) programs. The activity started last August and is now scheduled every Thursday. An Initial schedule is listed as follows:

August 31, 2004- Irisan
September 9, 2004- Middle Rock QuarrOp
September 16, 2004- Outlook Drive
September 23,2004- Pacdal
September 30, 2004- Southdrive
October 7, 2004- Sta. Escolastica Village
October 14,2004- Upper Rock Quarry

          3 .Coordination with Director Everdina Echalar-Doctor of the DILG Regional Office and Provincial Offices for the inclusion of the topic RBA to Governance and Development in the Jumpstarting Seminar for the newly-elected and re-elected local government officials.

          On September 22-23, 2004 CHR-CAR conducted RBA Orientation with the local government officials of Mt. Province who particularly the Vice-Mayors, Sangguniang Bayan Members and ABC Presidsents. The training was Held at the Archog Hotel, Samoki, Bontoc, Mt. Province .

          As of present, schedules are slated in the province of Benguet on October 15 at the OASIS Report, Sn Fdo, La Union and Province of Apayao on October 28-29 at Hotel Veniz, Baguio City


Program for the Police/Military

1. 3-Day Human Rights Seminar for the Public Safety Junior Leadership Course (PSJLC) Class 15-2004 at the Philippine Public Safety College, Police National Training Institute, Cordillera Administrative Region Training School, Teachers' Camp, Baguio City on September 22-34, 2004. There were 81 Police Officers who attended the seminar.

Program for the Academi

1. Re-echo of the Human Rights Trainors Training were done in the Province of Ifugao  and Baguio City recently as an offshoot of the TOT on the Human Rights Teaching Exemplars for CAR conducted on March 15-18, 2004 at the Ating Tahanan, Baguio City .

2. Tentative schedules are also set on October 15 at the Special Education (SPED) Center and October 25 at Gibraltar Elementary School all Baguio City .

3. Coordination with Hur Bautista, President of the University of Baguio thru the Director of the National Service Training Program (NTSP) for the conduct of RBA Seminar during Saturdays as part of the student's NSTP . The first batch is Tentatively Scheduled on October 2004.

Programs for the Tribal Communities

          One of the Prevailing issues in CAR is the recurrence of the olden practice of tribal conflict in specific areas of Kalinga and Eastern Mt. Province . As of present, CHR personel are in a dilemma how to face the issues of tribal war. The strategy thought for the mean time is the promotion of respect for human rights through lecture/symposiums in schools. The CHR strongly believes that inculcating human rights values and principles to the young generation in these tribal communities would someday change the attitude and culture of their tribes as to the practice of revenge is concerned.

          A background interview was recently conducted at the Governor's office in Bontoc, Mt. Province and a Betwagan folk adviced us that is easier to penetrate the barangay if we first go and conduct human rights seminar in the school where the punong barangay officials do not just allow the entry of strangers.

INTER-AGENCY NETWORKING/LINKAGES

1. Membership in the Cordillera Regional Development Council (CRDC) Particularly the Committee on Indigenous People Concerns

          Being the agency in the preparation of a situation analysis on Rights to Social Justice and Human Rights as part of the Indigenous Peoples Sectoral Agenda for 2004-2008,and to be intergrated into updating of the Regional Development Plan for 2005-2010, CHR-CAR convened the agencies concerned to include the PRO-CAR, NAPOLCOM, NCIP, and TEBTEBBA, an NGO based in the Cordillera on September 21 and 24 at the CHR-CAR office.Their inputs, with the technicals assistance of the NEDA representative contributed to the formulation of the human rights situationer affecting the IPs.

2. Membership in the Juvenile Justice Network (JJN)

          CHR-CAR is also an active member of the juvenile Justice network (JJN), a group composed of government agencies and NGOs working for the welfare of children in Conflict with the law (CICL). The latest project attended by Mr. Bienvenido L. Reano , CHR's representative to the network was held on September 23-24 at El Cielito Inn, Baguio City was a ceminar on Restorative Justice and Diversion bearing the theme "Justice that Heals". Another activity to be held on October 6-8, 2004 at the Abong Hall of the Filipino Japanese Foundation, Bukaneg Street , Baguio City is a Training of Trainors which aims to enhance the efficiency of JJN members who will be acting as trainers and resource persons in training activities initiated by the network. The Child and Family Service Philippines, Inc. is the able and active secretariat of the Group.

3. Membership in Anti Child Abuse Network (ACAN)

          This is formely known as the Child Abuse Unit (CAU), composed of government agencies and non government organizations dealing with multi-disciplinary approach in handling child abuse victims. The Committee on Training and Advocacy in the said Network is headed by Atty. Joselyn B. Castillo wherein the barangay Visits as stated in Item 2, page 1 of this report was conceptuaslized.

CHR-CAR however also helps in the investigation of child abuse cases.

4. Membership in the Mamayang Tutol sa Bitay-Northern Luzon (MTB-NL)

          The CHR-CAR thru the information Officer is a member of the convenors's group of the Mamayang Tutol sa Bitay (MTB)- Northern Luzon group in its movement for the abolition of the death penalty law and promotion of restorative justice in the country. The MTB-MRJ is initiated by the Philippine Human Rights Information Center (PhilRights).

          A people forum on Anti-death Penalty was conducted at St.Vincent Vicariate Pastoral Center and University of Baguio this month where Atty. Joselyn Castillo and Atty. Russel Ma-ao served as a guest speakers. At persent,ground works are being done for the conduct of a workshop on restorative justice this October in Baguio City .

5. Membership in the Regional Organization of GAD Focal Points (ROGFP)

          Ms. Brigada Cecilia Abratique represents CHR-CAR in the inter-agency participation on Gender and development. The group initiate moves in the promotion of women's rights especially in the celebration of Women's Month every March.

PARTICIPATION IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RESEARCH PROJECT

1. METAGORA

          Being the pilot area in the implementation of the METAGORA, a research project of the Commission which deals with Measuring Democracy, Human Rights and Governance with the Indigenous People as subject of Research, CHR-CAR participated in the conduct of briefing and consultations with the IP leaders held on June4-5, 2004 at the Ating Tahanan and the IPs of Barangay Happy Hallow, Baguio City. Another Consultation was conducted on September 17, 2004 at the Supreme Hotel, Baguio City which centered on the finalization of the research questionnaire.

B. PROTECTION AND MONITORING

1. Investigative Monitoring of HRV Cases Involving Indigenous Peoples

          These alleged HRV cases which are the subject of investigative monitoring were referred to by the National Interfaith Peace and Mercy Mission (NIPMM), a non government office active in monitoring of HRV committed against Indigenous Peoples, through the Central Office. Listed below are the findings as reported by the team who went to Benguet and Mt. Province recently.

Benguet

1. The alleged arbitrary arrest and Detention of Marlon Bugtong, 37 years old of Busan, Mankayan, Benguet by three unidentified members of Buguis PNP based in Abatan, Buguis, Benguet.

Findings:
          
          Marlon Bugtong is a 40 year old not 37 as reported, is a resident of Busan. Mankayan, Benguet. He is the the suspect in the shooting of one William Aquiso, a 19 year old resident of Nakiangan Abatan, buguis, Benguet last January 7, 2004 at abatan, Buguis. As a result of shooting incident, Marlon Bugtong was arrested by member Buguis PNP on January 8, 2004 .

          Gloria Lodaes y Colado,43 years old businesswoman, a relative of Mr.Bugtong, guaranteed the temporary release from safekeeping pending the filling of the case and/or of the amicable settlement of the case. This was inconformity with the victim's father, Mr. Noel S. Aquiso. Accordingly, the case was amicably settled.

2. Alleged cases of harassment against the following: Frenelyn Miguel Ramos, 18 years old and 7 months pregnant; Tommy Ramos, a farmer; Cristimar Miguel, 17 years old student; Leonida Miguel, 50 year old farmer; and one, Poblencio all of Ampuntoc , Conlalo, Mankayan, Benguet by combined elements of the PNP from the District 1 (camp Dangwa), District 2 (Mansion House) and District 3 (Camp Molintas), the 160 th Police Mobile Group and Mankayan Police plus undetermined number of CAFGUS.

Findings:

           These alleged cases of harassments is alleged arbitrary arrest and detention with torture of Joseph Bulsi Coop, 35 year-old resident of bana-ao, Tandian, Mt. Province last September 29, 2003 at Apuntoc, Colalo, Mankayan, Benguet. The alleged victims are the inlaws of Mr. Coop, the later married to s Marjorie Miguel. Accordingly, Joseph Bulsi Coop was of the suspects in the recent robbery with multiple homicide that happened inside Lepanto Mining Co. sometime ago. Witnesses claimed that they were positive that Mr. Coop was involved in said robbery hence the members of PNP caused the arrest of his inlaws as named above at Ampuloc, Colalo, mankayan.

          Other also testified that during the robbery, Mr. Coop was in Bana-ao,Tadian. It was claimed that harasstment were made against said victims during the arrest wherein PNP elements positioned themselves around the house of the victims at night time and caused the arrest at day break. This incident of alleged harassment was not reported to Mr. Martinez Bungaoit, Brgy. Captain of Colalo nor was it reported to the Mankayan Police Station.

Mountain Province

3. Efren War-warak Chadyaas was a victim of summary execution ast Adok, Belwang, Sadanga by elements of a Composite team of the 54 th IBPA based in bontoc, Mt. Province , 45 th IBPA and 53 RD Reconnaisance Group led by Lt. Eduardo Sia-ed
Lt.Andres and Lt. Quinalayo. This case has been docketed in CHR-CAR as a Case No. 03-18.

           Information gathered from the office of the Provincial Governor as to the status of the case reveals the following that:

a) The military stands to its earlier claim that there was a legitimate encounter with the victim;

b) The cases was taken up during the PPOC meeting.

c) The military will not pay any compensation to the relatives of the victim because it has always been the practice that everytime there is an encounter whether legitimate or not, the military always pay compensatory damages.Considering that there was a llegitimate encounter, they will not pay anything and will answer whatever changes filed in court in this particular case.

d) The relatives of the victim filed a petition addressed to the provincial Governor to intervine in the immediate arrest of the named perpetrators.

Kalinga
the following cases referred by the Cordillera Human Rights Organizastion (CHRO) all happened in the Municipality of Pinukpok ,kalinga. These where the subject of investigation and monitoring during the trip in the area on September 13-18.

1. Killing of Victor Balais , a 46 years old farmer and a resident of Barangay Asingbanlan, Pinukpok by members of the 77 th IBPA.

2.A complaint of alarms and scandals by residents of Sitios Anyong and Bonnong , Pinukpok against unidentified elements of the 21 st IBPA based in Tappo, Pinukok, Kalinga.

3. Illegal search and coercion of Rosita Miguel / Angel Miguel on March 12, 2004 by elements of the 21 st IBPA, CAFGU, & CPLA based in the area stated in item 2.

4. Grave coercion and arbitrary detention of Fidel Miguel by the above-stated elements of the PA.

2. Legal Division Plan of Activities

Atty. Russel Ma-ao of the legal Division has a plan to tap law students from the four (4) law schools of Baguio and Benguet to research on LGU resolutions, ordinances and development plans as part of CHR's oversight function and apply on these resolutions, ordinances and programs the RBA mapping tools.