NEW LUCENA, Iloilo, Philippines  (PNA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here is calling on government units (LGUs) to strictly implement laws that are meant to protect women and children.

DSWD Assistant Regional Director Joel Galicia said it is the responsibility of the city and municipal mayors to make sure that protecting women and children are strongly enforced. Galicia also said the municipal council may enact ordinances in support of the national laws on the matter.

These laws include Republic Act No. 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004, Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) and Republic Act No. 7610 or Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

The DSWD also lamented that some LGUs do not prioritize women and children in their agenda and projects. Likewise, funds and budget shares from the annual internal revenue allotment (IRA) intended for women and children are not utilized for their cause.

Galicia said that the DSWD is currently coordinating with the Department of Interior and Local Government to monitor which LGUs do not have any active and working programs to protect women and children from violence.

The DWSD, the DILG and various other government agencies are currently observing the 18-day campaign on the elimination of violence against women and children.

MILITARY IN ILOILO SCORES

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines  (PNA) - Two suspected New People's Army rebels were killed in clashes with government troops in this province Saturday morning.

In the first incident, soldiers from the Philippine Army (PA)’s 61st Infantry (Hunter) Battalion (61 1B) encountered a group of heavily armed rebels in Barangay Mambiranan, Calinog, Iloilo at about 9 a.m. Saturday.

1Lt. Mark Andrew Posadas, spokesperson of the PA’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division (3ID) said government troops caught up with the insurgents based on tips from concerned civilians.

The insurgents withdrew after engaging government troops with firefight for almost two hours, he said. No casualties were reported on both sides in said armed clash. Meanwhile, pursuing government troops encountered anew some 20 heavily armed NPA rebels at noontime Saturday in Barangay Malitbog, Tapaz, Capiz, which is near the boundary of Capiz and Bingawan town of Iloilo.

Posadas said there were no casualties on the side of the military while the enemy reportedly suffered two casualties although this has yet to be confirmed by military authorities on the field.

The 61 1B, which swapped assignments with 47th Infantry Battalion in mid-November, moved out from Barangay Tiling, Cauayan in southern Negros for Panay Island. Led by Lt. Col.

TASK FORCE RESCUES 30 GIRLS

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines  - Elements of the Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force of the Police Regional Office 7 rescued at least 30 girls of minor age during a raid in an alleged house of ill-repute in Barangay Banilad, this city.

Although leaders of the raiding team have not released the details of the raid, a source said the operation, led by personnel from the Department of Justice, swooped into said alleged casa in the said barangay and rescued the girls. The source also said that most of the rescued girls were not from Cebu.

Apparently, they were promised work here in Cebu by a recruiter but ended up in the casa instead. The raid was based on a search warrant following intelligence reports that a new batch of girls below 18 years old arrived in the said casa a few days ago.

The raid was authorized under Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Person Act of 2003. Some workers of the casa were also arrested during the raid but the authorities said full details of the operation will be not be released until later this week. (Mars W. Mosqueda, Jr.)