Info drive on VAWC, insurgency reaches remote Samar village

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 29, 2021): Info drive on VAWC, insurgency reaches remote Samar village (By Roel Amazona)

REACHING OUT. A resident in a remote Calbayog City village receives a food pack from government forces during an information drive on Thursday (April 28, 2021). Government forces and a private group in Calbayog City have intensified their information drive in the city’s remote areas in the bid to prevent abuses to women and children and deceptive recruitment of the New People’s Army. (Photo courtesy of Leviresa Getigan)

Government troops and a private group in Calbayog City have intensified their information drive in the city’s remote areas in the bid to prevent violence against women and their children (VAWC) and the deceptive recruitment of the New People’s Army (NPA).

The People’s Outreach Program (POP), a non-government organization, and various units of the Philippine National Police and Philippine Army held on Wednesday a community outreach activity in the city’s remote Tarabucan village.

Tarabucan is located about 30 kilometers upland from the city’s commercial district.

During the community outreach, law enforcement personnel discussed the provisions of Republic Acts 8353 or the Anti-Rape Law of 1997, Republic Act 7610: Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, and Republic Act 9262: Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004.

“The orientation was held in order to prevent further abuses by informing the public especially women who are suffering exploitations. It was learned that more cases of different abuses were recorded since the global pandemic by the PNP’s Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD),” the PNP said in a statement on Thursday.

On the part of the military, the 43rd Infantry Battalion solicited strong support from the Tarabucan residents on the government’s campaign to end insurgency through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.

“We also encouraged residents who know someone supportive or members of the communist group to convince them to yield themselves and firearms to the government forces so as their reintegration to their respective communities,” the Philippine Army said in a separate statement.

The group also assured residents that the police and military forces assigned in the city will work hand in hand to instill peace and order in the place.

The group also provided rice packs to around 172 families and food packs to 100 children.

Calbayog, a commercial hub in the northwest part of Samar province, is about 172 kilometers north of Tacloban, the regional capital.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1138471