OPAPP turns over detention center for women, children to police station in Maguindanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 9): OPAPP turns over detention center for women, children to police station in Maguindanao

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) turned over on Thursday a Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) to the municipal police station here.

“The OPAPP took the initiative to fund the facility in support and response to the government’s peace and security concerns particularly in conflict situations,” OPAPP Usec. Diosita Andot, who led the opening of the center on Thursday, said.

The initiative to erect the one-storey 10 x 6 center, costing PHP300,000, came after the local police had a hard time figuring out where to detain a minor female suspect, who was collared in one of their anti-illegal drugs operation late last year.

“During that time, we brought the female suspect, who was also eight months pregnant, to the Shariff Aguak municipal police office, where there is a women and children center,” Chief Insp. Lendsy Sinsuat, former Datu Odin Sinsuat police chief, said.

Sinsuat said the incident prompted them to ask their superiors for the possible establishment of the facility, to which the OPAPP responded.

Chief Insp. Ali Bunga, current town police chief, vowed to operate the WCPC competently to safeguard women and children against any form of violence.

“We are lucky to have this WCPC as there are still many other police units in the ARMM that do not have this kind of facility,” Bunga said.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=970440