“Never pick a fight with ugly people; they’ve got nothing to lose.” – SALVADOR DALI.
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While the Marcos government pirouettes like a headless chicken scooting around in search of a rational response to China’s intrusive bullying in the SCS, it is commendable to note, at this time, the issuance of DILG MC 2023-104 urging all barangays to set up their own VAW desks to address the increasing sexual violence committed against women and children.
SILG Benhur Abalos hit the nail on the head as he challenged village chairpersons to provide support for the establishment and sustained operations of a VAW desk by designating a Sangguniang barangay kagawad as VAW desk officer who is trained in handling gender sensitive cases.
We have to admit that cases of domestic violence usually are lumped into the laps of the police which, ideally, should be solved from the source – in the barangay level, that is.
This is a type of empowerment the barangay councils should adequately employ before the “small fire becomes a conflagration”.
Barangay officials are first peacemakers. They are expected to lead their constituents in transforming their communities into a safe place to reside and live in.
VAW desks offer immediate relief to families who are unable to solve domestic problems on their own.
VAW desks in the barangays would be a big help to DSWD social workers who are usually over-burdened with the myriad of socio-economic issues in their hands.
Abalos’ idea should have been introduced long ago by his predecessors especially during the height of the shabu proliferation in the big cities and crowded communities.
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Either one of former Presidents Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Rodrigo Roa Duterte was responsbile for making the promise to remove BRP Sierra Madre from the disputed Ayungin Shoal.
This is the contention of some opposition legislators when China disclosed that someone from government promised to Beijing in 1999 that the grounded military vessel would be pulled out of the area.
Whereupon, spokespersons for ex-PJEE stood up to deny that there never was a promise made by the former San Juan City Mayor and GMA herself declared she didn’t make any during her term.
They acquitted the late Chief Executive Noynoy Aquino 3rd on the ground that it was he who intiated the elevation of the WPS issue to the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague where the Philippines got a favorable ruling.
The insinuations now are that because ex-PRRD became this close to Chinese Pres. Xi Jin Ping during his incumbency, the logical thought sequence being entertained by those who have nasty ideas would be that the former Davao City mayor may have made the committment.
I cannot buy this.
Any President, before making a unilateral decision involving national security (and foreign relations) would naturally first consult his National Secutiry Adviser, the Secretary of National defense and the AFP and even the Foreign Affairs Department.
This is witch hunting..
Those who are looking to pin down ex-PRRD on this matter bit the bait hook, line and sinker.
Just because the Beijing government made the disclosure, should it be given credence?
Suppose, for the sake of argument, the Chinese claimed that a special envoy from the Philippine government acting as a backdoor channeler made the verbal committment, would this declaration be taken as gospel truth?
Where is the documentary evidence?
The Chinese are good at playing checkers. They invented this board game, didn’t they?
And now, to its credit, China has also produced a world chess champion.
Hmmm. What’s next? (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com). GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
