Sunday 16 December 2012

PIA News Dispatch - Saturday, December 15, 2012


Government counseling Mindanao typhoon victims to ensure their well-being

 The government vowed to ensure the emotional well-being of typhoon victims in Mindanao following reports that many victims have been suffering from mental illnesses as a result of the disaster, the Palace said on Saturday.

 In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the some members of the Aquino Cabinet went to the disaster area on Friday and had a dialogue with survivors on the ongoing normalization efforts of the government.

 They explained to the survivors the government plans being carried out, the relief and reconstruction initiatives, so that their lives could go back to normal.

 “We are also cognizant of the fact that the survivors cannot be left in the dark. You have to really tell them, and to help them that this is what we are doing,” Valte said.

 “Apart from the evacuation efforts, the relief efforts, the DSWD is also providing stress debriefing para doon sa mga survivors, given the number of them and the number of social workers that we have, it really is a daunting task,” she added.

 As the government provides the victims with food, clothing and shelter, it is also working to ensure that the survivors have a healthy well-being, Valte said.

 On the spiritual side, Valte said they’ll leave it to local priests and pastors to give the victims spiritual counseling.

 Reacting to reports saying the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued logging permits that eventually exacerbated the situation during the typhoon, Valte said they will await the result of the investigation ordered by the President.

 “When the storm was ongoing and we were only beginning to see the effects of the typhoon, meron nang mga nagsasabi diyan. We will leave it up to the members assigned to determine it kasi it can be a factor… illegal logging and mining,” Valte said.

 “That will be part of the investigation. The DOJ, DENR, DILG, sila ang naatasan ng Pangulo na tingnan kung bakit at ano ang dahilan ng mga pangyayari doon sa Davao Oriental at sa Compostela Valley,” she added. PND (as)


Palace extends condolences to the families of Connecticut shooting victims
 
Malacanang extended its condolences to the families of the victims of the Connecticut shooting on Friday (US time) that killed 26 people, 20 of them schoolchildren.

 Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview Saturday over government-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan that the Filipino public was horrified by reports on the Connecticut shooting especially because most the victims are young children.

 “Our deepest condolences go out to the families, to the teachers, to the loved ones of everybody at talagang hindi natin nai-imagine ang ganitong klaseng pangyayari. Our hearts and minds... and our prayers are with them as they go through a very, very difficult time especially magpapasko pa naman,” Valte said.

 Relating the US shooting to gun control efforts in the Philippines, Valte said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has a campaign against loose firearms.

 “The campaign of the PNP is underway..., as you know, meron tayong number of loose firearms that are already in the custody of the PNP, and as well as illegal firearms,” she said.

 “Underway naman ang kanilang kampanya and so far nakikita naman natin ang kanilang pagpupursigi. Kailangan lang talaga ng konti pang panahon at konti pang pagtutulak para maging mas successful ang kanilang kampanya.”

 Twenty six people died Saturday during a shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School—20 of them children. Among the six adults killed were the school’s principal and the school psychologist.

 The shooter was identified by law enforcement officials as 20-year-old Adam Lanza. He was found dead apparently as a result of self-inflicted wound. Separately, his mother's body was found at a Newtown, Connecticut, residence.

 The death toll put the Newtown shooting as the second-deadliest school shooting in US history, behind only the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech that left 32 people dead.

 Authorities recovered three weapons from the school: a semi-automatic .223 Bushmaster found in a car in the school parking lot, and a Glock and a Sig Sauer pistols found with Lanza's body.

 Police said the weapons were legally purchased by Lanza’s mother. PND (as)


President Aquino expresses sympathies over gradeschool massacre in Connecticut
 

President Benigno S. Aquino III issued a statement on Saturday extending condolences to the families of the victims of the New Town, Connecticut shooting that left 26 people dead, 20 of them schoolchildren.

“At this time of the deepest mourning over the tragic loss of life in  Connecticut, I extend the deepest sympathy and solidarity to the families of those who lost loved ones in the  Sandy Hook Elementary School,” the President said in the statement.

“Together with the entire Filipino people, we stand beside you with bowed heads, yet in deep admiration over the manner in which the American people have reached out to comfort the afflicted, and to search for answers that will give meaning and hope to this grim event. We pray for healing, and that this heartbreak will never be visited on any community ever again.”

Because most of those killed were young children, other world leaders expressed grief over the tragedy, including US President Barack Obama. Obama, a father of two girls, who wiped away tears while delivering a statement about the shooting.

“Our hearts are broken today. The majority of those who died today were children. Beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old,” the US President said.

Flags were ordered to fly at half-staff nationwide in tribute to the victims. There are also planned candlelight vigils across the country as Americans gather to try to comprehend the tragedy.

Among the six adults killed in the shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School were the school’s principal and the school psychologist.

The shooter was identified by law enforcement officials as 20-year-old Adam Lanza. He was found dead apparently as a result of self-inflicted wound. Separately, his mother's body was found at a  Newtown, Connecticut, residence.

The death toll put the Newtown shooting as the second-deadliest school shooting in US history, behind only the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech that left 32 people dead.

 Authorities recovered three weapons from the school: a semi-automatic .223 Bushmaster found in a car in the school parking lot, and a Glock and a Sig Sauer pistols found with Lanza’s body.

All the weapons were legally purchased by Lanza’s mother, police said.  PND (as)