Senator Pacquiao vows to help victims of injustice & poverty in the countryside
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 27 Aug 2016
LUPON, Davao Oriental ? Senator Manny Pacquiao traveled all the way from Manila to the remote village in this town to foster peace and listen to the voices of people who felt alienated from the mainstream society by lingering government neglect, injustice and poverty.
?My duty as a senator is not only to legislate but also to help those who are deprived of their rights to a peaceful and decent life, including victims of injustice,? Senator Pacquiao said.
The highlight of Senator Pacquiao?s visit was the turnover by the communist guerrillas of two prisoners of war they captured a few months back ?For committing various offenses against the people.?
The simple turnover ceremony took place Friday afternoon in Calapagan village, Lupon town, Davao Oriental in the presence of fully-armed communist fighters, some local government officials, non-government organizations, religious workers and families of the two POWs.
The two released captives ? Police Chief Insp. Arnold S. Ongachen and Police Officer 1 Michael B. Grande ? were emotional, tears cascading off their faces, as they were tightly embraced by their loved ones after the turnover ceremony.
The duo thanked their captors for treating them humanely while under custody.
?We express our thanks to the CPP-NPA for taking care of us while we were under their custody. They are really following the Geneva convention particularly the protocols on the treatment of prisoners of war,? Ongachen said.
CPP-NPA-NDF Far South Mindanao Region spokesperson Rubi Del Mundo, who signed the release order, said ?The People?s Democratic Government?s judicial proceedings into the two POWs? possible war crimes and violation of people?s rights have been effectively suspended in deference to appeals of their families and peace advocates.?
Del Mundo added that ?POW Ongachen and POW Grande have apologized for their violations against the people.?
NPA guerrillas abducted Ongachen, the chief of police of the Gov. Generoso town of Davao Oriental on May 28, after he was linked to drug operations in the province.
A certain PO3 Johnray Cinco was wounded during the attack.
The communist revolutionaries arrested Grande, 29, in Lupon town of Davao Oriental last June 19.
Grande, assigned at the Municipal Police Station of Banaybanay, also in Davao Oriental, was tagged by the communist fighters as an abusive cop responsible for mauling, harassing and intimidating several civilians in said town.
A certain Commander Kas of the New People?s Army?s Compostela Valley Sub-Regional Command said ?We decided to release the two prisoners of war to Senator Pacquiao because we trust him. We appreciate his efforts in travelling to this remote area just to receive the captives.?
Senator Pacquiao, accompanied by five of his Senate staff, flew to Lupon town aboard two choppers to meet with the NPA guerrillas.
From the town center, Senator Pacquiao rode on single motorcycle known locally as ?Habal-habal? to reach the rendezvous area, a huge skeleton house perched atop a bushy hill.
There, the NPA leaders warmly welcomed and ate lunch with Senator Pacquiao.
They even shared their views on several leading issues like the government?s anti-drug campaign, peace and insurgency problem, poverty and injustice, among others.
The senator from Mindanao also met with the families and relatives of several political activists who are now languishing in different detention facilities in Davao Oriental and nearby Compostela Valley after they were arrested on trumped-up charges initiated by the government forces operating in the area.
Senator Pacquiao vowed to help them get the justice they deserve.
?I will ask my lawyers to look into the charges filed against your loved ones. I will also exert efforts to expedite the resolution of their cases,? Senator Pacquiao said.
From Lupon, Senator Pacquiao brought the released captives to the Eastern Mindanao Command in Panacan, Davao City for formal turnover to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Photo: POWs Police Chief Insp. Arnold Ongachen (left) and Police Officer 1 Michael Grande (right) with Sen. Manny Pacquiao. Photo by Wendell Alinea / OSMP.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Aquiles Z. Zonio.
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