IN LA CASTELLANA - Trauma healing continues

From the Visayan Daily Star (Mar 7): IN LA CASTELLANA - Trauma healing continues

The trauma healing efforts for residents of Brgy. Puso, La Castellana, in Negros Occidental, to enable them to cope with the effects of the January 27 ambush, are being done without let-up by personnel from government and non-government organizations.

Capt. Christopher Cunanan, 303rd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations officer, said yesterday that they have prepared various activities, especially for the children of ambush victims, to help them battle anxiety and depression.

Eight civilians and a policeman were killed in the La Castellana ambush.

The 3rd CMO Battalion, assisted by the Bantay Bata 163 Negros of ABS-CBN, recently provided entertainment shows and distributed used clothing and toys to children in the barangay.

Cunanan said an incident debriefing was also conducted, in coordination with the Diocese of Kabankalan Social Action Center and peace advocates groups in Negros Occidental.

Since those most affected by the incident were the children, he said the activity has provided them the tools not only to recover, but to realize their potentials, nurture their talents and contribute once more to the growth of their community.

Eddie Mateo, brother of ambush victim Jonathan Mateo, hanged himself last month in Brgy. Cabacungan, La Castellana, because of depression, police records show.

His two sisters are undergoing critical incident stress debriefing, Cunanan said.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2013/March/07/police.htm