LGUs to strengthen
anti-trafficking drive

Local Government Units in the country have passed resolutions and ordinances to strengthen the government's campaign against Trafficking in Person, a Philippine Information Agency press release said.

A report of the American Center for International Labor Solidarityter, an organization that push for Anti- Trafficking in Person (ATIP) in the Philippines, 47 LGUs adopted anti-TIP ordinances/ executive orders, this year.

The figure shows that 27 ordinances were already passed while 14 are still pending and another six LGUs committed to adopt similar legal moves.

Over all, about 53 LGUs nationwide conducted ATIP orientations resulting to the holding of 110 various ATIP activities across the country attended by more than 16,000 participants; 12,000 of whom were women.

At least five LGUs provided gainful employment, training, and other livelihood assistance to 13 identified TIP victims.

In a recent meeting at the Executive Inn in Bacolod City , National Project Coordinator Anna Lee Fos said they are looking forward to more TIP violators reported and culprits placed behind bars, the press release said.

The United States Agency for International Development is funding ATIP projects in the country, the press release added.*

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Vendors to cooperate with cops

Vendors at the Bacolod City public plaza yesterday said they are willing to cooperate with the police and members of the City Legal Office in the operations to clear the place of sellers and other dealers as long as they are treated properly.

Edith Rivera, a candy and cigarette vendor, said she and her fellow vendors are willing to pack up their merchandise and leave the plaza as long as they will not be harassed, and there is an instruction from Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

The police had said that it will heighten its drive against ambulant vendors, commercial sex workers, and other dealers at the plaza to encourage the public to go and stay there and restore it to its “old glory” as a place for picnics and recreation.

Rivera, 64, said that last year, their goods were taken away by guards at the plaza without showing them any document that authorized the clearing.

Roberto de la Cruz, 25, a carwash boy at the plaza, meanwhile, said he hopes the authorities will spare them from the clearing because they only earn a few pesos from cleaning cars.

He added though, that they will have to abide with the rules when the police and CLO members finally come and tell them to stop occupying their areas at the plaza.

City Legal Officer, Allan Zamora, however, said that the standing instruction from Leonardia is only to go after vendors who have pushcarts and that they are not after those who just carry their products and roam around the plaza.

He added that the city has no jurisdiction over those who have stalls near Rizal Street as this area is owned by the church.

Bacolod City Police Office director, Senior Supt. Ronilo Quebrar, on the other hand, said that they will include vendors like Rivera in their operations.

He said this drive is in support of the city government's tourism program and they need to do it to clean the plaza “physically and morally.”

Rivera and De la Cruz said they hope the city government will give them alternatives when the heightened clearing drive starts.*PP

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Security guard faces
raps for shooting man

The police yesterday filed homicide charges against a security guard for the fatal shooting of a man in Bacolod City last week.

Dante Tabolinar was charged at the City Prosecutor's Office yesterday for the killing of Jonathan Padilla, 18, on December 30, Police Station 2 commander, Inspector Rie Gumban, said.

Padilla, of Phase 6-B, Brgy. Handumanan, Bacolod , was shot dead by Tabolinar, 26, in an altercation over firecrackers near the compound of Misyel's Catering at 27th-Calamba streets, in the city, at about 5 a.m. on December 30, police records showed.

Tabolinar, who surrendered to the police after the incident, told Police Station 2 investigators that Padilla had been banging the gate of the compound and throwing firecrackers at the area.

The security guard also told the police that he shot Padilla who tried to attack him with a knife, Gumban said.

Recovered from the crime scene was Tabolinar's shotgun, bullets, empty shells, and Padilla's knife, police reports said.*PP

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