Campaign for support to Mindanao peace process underway in Dumaguete
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, August 13 (PIA) --- A campaign to gather public support for sustainable peace in Mindanao dubbed "Duyog Mindanao 2011" is underway in Dumaguete City beginning August 9 until August 13, 2011.
The non-government organization, Mindanao Peaceweavers (MPW), has scheduled a series of events that aim to promote civil society participation in what it calls as "sustained peacebuilding" in Mindanao.
On August 9, the group staged a photo exhibit dubbed "Today as the Past: Telling the Story of Mindanao" featuring photos from the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network (PECOJON) at Robinsons Place which will run until August 14.
A "Run for Peace" facilitated by the Negros Oriental Sports confederation and the Metro Dumaguete Roadrunners Club will then be held on August 13 at 5:30 a.m. to benefit the displaced communities in Mindanao.
The race will be followed by a forum entitled "Organize BISDAK: Bisayang Dako Alang sa Kalinaw-Citizen's Forum for Peace in Mindanao" at 10:00 a.m. at Robinsons Place.
According to Judito Cabusao, program manager of Initiative for International Dialogue and lead secretariat of MPW, said in a statement that MPW hopes to address the perceived lack of citizen involvement in the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace negotiation.
"By creating a political and social environment, this will ensure a broader popular and political support to the current peace process," Cabusao said.
He explained that "achieving a negotiated political settlement of the armed conflict between the GPH and the MILF is crucial to move forward genuine development not only in Mindanao but also in the whole country."
In 2010, the Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Agenda (MPPA) which is centered on the 15-point agenda for peace was successfully adopted and introduced to the major stakeholders in Mindanao and to the general public.
In the same year, the MPPA was further socialized in the Visayas and Mindanao via the Duyog Mindanao campaign endorsed by MPW.
MPW is a multi-sectoral group composed of peace advocates in Mindanao conceived during the "Peace in MindaNOW Conference" held in Davao City in 2003. Its aim is to advance a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Mindanao. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from Paul Paras)
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Dumaguete welcomes new OIC-Chief of Police
by Rachelle M. Nessia
DUMAGUETE CITY, August 13 (PIA) --- The new Officer-in-Charge of the Dumaguete City Police force was installed on August 12, 2011 during a simple turnover of command held at the office of City Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria.
Police Supt. Crisaleo Tolentino took over the post temporarily held by Police Senior Eduardo Oira whose order of release was read by P/Insp. Romulo Llado during said ceremony.
According to Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, who witnessed the ceremony, P/Supt. Tolentino will officially assume the position of Dumaguete City Police chief after the regional Philippine National Police (PNP-7) office has approved the request for Tolentino's new designation.
"For the moment, Tolentino's function will be as OIC of the Dumaguete Police Station," said a statement from the Dumaguete Information Office.
Mayor Sagarbarria said he chose Tolentino because "he is a true-blooded Dumagueteno." The new OIC-chief of police's family is residing in Barangay Batinguel, this city.
Supt. Tolentino was the former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Dumaguete before he was transferred to the regional office in Cebu.
The mayor is optimistic that Tolentino will exert extra effort in giving the best performance for the peace and order of Dumaguete, especially in solving the crimes in the city, especially the death of Atty. Archer Martinez who was gunned down in his office in downtown area on August 5. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)