Cordi top cop on peacekeeping/DSWD reacts on slay of worker

BEHIND THE SCENES

Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY -- Although a little bit late in the day, the talk in coffee shops here often shifts to the last elections.

One observation is that elections in Cordillera provinces have never really been that bloody except in Abra the past years. Police over the years, have tried to contain the violence in the province every election, but it seemed, killings have become a tradition among feuding political families and their supporters.

As compared to other lowland provinces or regions, it was observed violence in the Cordillera was minimal the latest political exercise as compared to the lowlands.. If you have been reading this paper the past few months, you could have noted the accounts on killings in other regions related to the polls.

One quipped at Luisas Cafe, the favourite hangout of media and other seedy characters in Baguio that it may be part of the Ilocano culture to be violent particularly during polls which elicited lively discussion.

One said Igorots in the Cordillera are more peaceful and even if people say Kalinga is also a violent province, that is actually not the case since it is just part of the culture among indigenous tribes there to indulge in killings to avenge wrongs done in accordance to the bodong or peace pacts. It was noted Kalinga folks, particularly in binodngan areas are actually coming of age, now renouncing violence and relying more on courts to attain justice but that is another story.

Lest we stray, if it was moderately peaceful in Cordillera the last electoral exercise, it was due to peacekeeping strategies implemented prior to the polls.

This, according to Cordillera regional police director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong who told media

the strategy started with identification of critical issues and concerns. From there, practical action plans were reportedly formulated with stakeholders.

This resulted in peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections especially in identified hotspots such as Abra.

“The action plans that were carefully executed led to the successful neutralization of private armed groups or guns-for-hire. From six active PAGs with 113 members in the Cordillera in 2012, the number is now down to only one PAG with five members,” Magalong said.

According to him, the high yield of firearms confiscated, surrendered, and muzzle taped reduced firearms circulating in the region which led to decline of shooting incidents, especially in Abra.

Since start of the Commission on Elections gun ban, the, Regional Election Monitoring Action Center (REMAC) recorded a yield of 80 assorted firearms, 73 of which were confiscated and seven recovered while 96 persons were arrested and 77 cases for violation of gun ban were filed in court.

In Abra, police reportedly recorded 55 shooting incidents from January to April in 2011 with 37 incidents happening in the capital town of Bangued. 

“Significantly, number of shooting incidents dropped to 25 during the same period in 2012, majority of which happened in Bangued. For this year, only four shooting incidents were recorded which illustrate that peacekeeping strategies has effectively and efficiently worked to advantage of law enforcers.”

Magalong also cited a critical component of the strategy that alleviated tension between feuding politicians specially in Abra and Kalinga called “conflict mediation and diffusion program (CMDP).

“It was an innovation in peacekeeping and a venue where contending parties were allowed to ventilate their emotions, sentiments, and impressions by openly and freely bringing out personal as well as political issues against each other in a 3-4 hour session with the presence of concerned police officers carefully listening to the issues and concerns being raised by each of the contending parties,” Magalong said.

“This required PNP personnel to employ active listening skills while maintaining order in the free for-all discussion. The 11 sessions that were held between political rivals in Abra and Kalinga usually ended up with meaningful handshakes and hugs.”

Magalong explained the most important factor that contributed to success of the elections was the involvement of private sectors such as Abra Peace Convenors Group and Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance, help and cooperation extended by  religious sectors, objective media reportage and  collective effort and neutrality displayed by the PNP and AFP. 

***

Still on Abra, we received a statement of Reynaldo C. Reynoso, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development –Cordillera on the death of John Paul P. Barbero, one of its officers stationed in Villaviciosa town in the province who was allegedly slain by a minor on May 29 for trying to rape the latter’s elder sister.

The statement was sent by Rogerson Dennis R. Fernandez, DSWD regional training specialist, after the incident became hot issue:

“The Department of Social Welfare and Development –Cordillera Administrative Region is deeply saddened by the tragic and untimely death of one of its community development workers in the province of Abra.

“John Paul P. Barbero, 29, a well-loved and hardworking community facilitator of the Kapit-bisig Laban saKahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) Project of the DSWD-CAR, was killed on Wednesday, 29th of May 2013, while at his partner’s residence in Villaviciosa, Abra.

“We sympathize and respect the pains of both parties involved in the incident. We hope that the parties remain calm and that they fully cooperate on the investigation conducted by authorities in Abra.

“We are also saddened, however, by the insensitive and careless reportage initially made by some media outfits that created unfair speculations and accusations among the public on the details of his passing.

“With these, we appeal for sensitivity and compassion especially from the public and the media to stop speculating and commenting on the matter which might impinge on the ongoing investigation about the incident.

“We condole with the family of John Paul, who at this point needs our prayers and support. We also pray for the immediate resolution of the investigation to give light and serve justice for all parties.”

***

The incident was also reported in the Northern Philippine Times last week. It was entitled “DSWD worker hacked to death by minor for trying to rape sister.” For those who were not able to read it, this was our short account:

“VILLAVICIOSA, Abra – A certain John Paul Barbero, 29, Social Welfare employee of Barangay Ap-apaya here was hacked to death by a minor May 28 for allegedly trying to rape his older sister.

“A police report said at about 11 a.m. that day, in So. Sitio Las-ud, Barangay Bollilising, the victim arrived at the tobacco-curing barn of the alleged hacker’s family.

“The victim allegedly attempted to rape the 21-year-old- sister of the minor identified as Reyma B. Segundo, casual employee of Medicare Hospital and a resident of the place.

“This prompted the minor to get a bolo and hacked Barbero on different parts of his body resulting to his death.

“The minor was arrested by responding Villaviciosa police and recovered the bolo used in the crime.”

***

We don’t think our report on the matter was “insensitive and careless reportage,” as Reynoso said in his statement. Anyway, we didn’t feel alluded to and he may have been referring to other outfits.

If DSWD officers noticed, our article was based purely from a police report sent by the regional police information office based in Camp Dangwa.

There may have been other news outfits, who basing from the police report, may have made their commentaries or editorials on the matter. But then, it was their right as members of the Forth Estate as long as they didn’t go overboard. In other words, there should have been no malice in their accounts or they could be liable for libel.  

That is the reason why there are columns and editorials in newspapers. In the case of the former, the writer can explain his opinion. Editorials are supposed to the “stand” or “viewpoint” of the newspaper on issues.

The media usually base their stories from accounts of authorities like police, main reason why government information officers should be very careful what they write in their press releases or what they say because these usually come out in the news, considering the deadly accuracy of news reporters in quoting or gathering facts.     

That is why, DSWD or other government officials should not be onion-skinned when news articles or commentaries involve them, because as an adage says, “Where there is smoke, there is fire.”