President Aquino renews commitment to bring
peace to Mindanao
President Benigno S. Aquino III has renewed his
enthusiasm to put into law the political commitments previously agreed upon in
the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, an official said on Friday.
The President met with the Bangsamoro Transition
Commission on Thursday to resolve issues in the crafting of the Bangsamoro
basic law.
"The President really gave time to meet
with the Bangsamoro Transition Commission dahil in-express niya iyong kanyang
fervent, genuine commitment, at lahat ng kanyang readiness na talagang
maipatupad, na maisabatas... put into law ang mga political commitments in the
Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro," Presidential adviser on the
peace process Teresita Quintos-Deles said in an interview following the signing
of a memorandum of agreement on Executive Order 138 at the Palace.
The President intended to draw out all concerns
in the crafting of the draft law, Deles said, adding that the panels have
decided to convene again on Friday (July 25).
Thursday’s meeting was a major development as it
gave both sides an opportunity to understand each other’s position, especially
in threshing out the draft’s language, which remains unresolved, she said.
The problem is in the interpretation of how a
political agreement is put into legal form, the Presidential adviser said.
She said the President suggested that each side
walk in the other's shoes to resolve their differences.
"Maybe we can have a process na tinitingnan
n'yo ang concerns namin at, on our part, we will look into your concerns so
that we can find the fastest resolution on the issues that are not moving away
or diluting political agreements that have already been signed, but are issues
about what should now be put in the law," she said, quoting the President.
Some of the proposed revisions reflected the
concerns of the President, Deles said.
The President has previously assured that a free
election in the Bangsamoro will be held in 2016 to ensure lasting peace in
Mindanao. PND (as)
Disbursement Acceleration Program will not
affect President Aquino's legacy, says Palace official
The Palace has expressed confidence that the
Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) issue would not affect the President's
legacy when he steps down from power in 2016.
"Confident naman po tayong makikita doon sa
mga ginagawa ng Pangulo ang kanyang pagpupursige to leave this country in a
better state in 2016," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said
in a press briefing in Malacañang on Friday.
Observers have said that some of the President's
adversaries are using the DAP issue to discredit him and make light of his
accomplishments.
Valte said many Filipinos more or less understand
the program but the issue could not be discussed any further due to the motion
for reconsideration that is pending with the Supreme Court.
"Hihintayin na lang po natin iyong magiging
desisyon ng Korte Suprema at malinaw naman pong sinabi ng Pangulo na kung
anuman iyon ay government will abide by it," she said.
In his recent speeches, the President said the
people have benefited from the DAP through the implementation of different
government projects, that even the Supreme Court has acknowledged that the
program has helped the country economically. PND (as)
Government agencies sign agreement to implement
law to protect children in armed conflict
Representatives of various government agencies
on Friday signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) to carry out Executive Order
138 on protecting the welfare of children involved in armed conflict.
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman,
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Presidential peace adviser Teresita
Quintos-Deles, and Department of Education Undersecretary Albert Muyot were
among those who signed the memorandum during a ceremony held at the Social Hall
of Mabini Building in Malacañang Palace.
The signing of the MOA seeks the support of
government agencies and other stakeholders to commit to their roles and
responsibilities in the implementation of EO 138 on the monitoring, reporting
and organization of a response system to prevent the abuse of children’s rights
in situations of armed conflict.
Executive Order 138 "Amending Executive
Order 56 Adopting the Comprehensive Program Framework for Children in Armed
Conflict, Strengthening the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and for
Other Purposes" was signed by the President in August last year.
The Comprehensive Program Framework for Children
in Armed Conflict directs government agencies and local government units to
address the alarming involvement of children in armed conflict as combatants,
couriers, guides, spies, medics, cooks or any similar non-combatant capacity.
The CWC, which serves as the focal interagency
body for the government, will coordinate and lead the organization of the
Monitoring, Reporting and Response System Team, composed of several government
agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine
National Police (PNP), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG),
Department of Health (DOH), and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the
Peace Process (OPPAP).
They are mandated to respond to concerns of
children in situations of conflict, such as killing, maiming, recruitment and
use of children, attacks on schools and health facilities, rape and other
abuses.
The Inter-Agency Committee on Children in Armed
Conflict, organized through a memorandum of agreement in April 2007, will be
chaired by the CWC.
Its members are the Commission on Human Rights,
Department of Education, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Interior
and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of National Defense,
Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Justice, Department of Social
Welfare and Development, Philippine National Police, Presidential Human Rights
Committee, Presidential Management Staff, and Office of the Presidential
Adviser on Peace Process.
Republic Act 7610, also known as the
"Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination Act", declares children as Zones of Peace and as such, they
shall not be recruited to become members of the armed forces or its civilian
units, or be used as fighters, couriers or spies.
From 2011 to 2013, the DSWD took care of 229
children who were victims of armed conflicts. Last February, local and foreign
media reported that three child soldiers were among 53 people killed in a
week-long fighting between the military and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom
Fighters. PND (as)
