CATBALOGAN CITY-Oftentimes we fear what we do not know and what is yet to come. Fear consumes us that in the end, we are left with poor choices.
For Remy, it was also fear that forced her to stay in an abusive relationship. She was afraid that she might not be able to raise her children alone.
She feared that her children might blame her for having a broken family. She was afraid to live a life without her husband.
“I never expected that there will come a time that I will be a battered wife,” she said.
“For how many years I have been patient and forgiving for the benefit of my children. I’ve hidden all the signs of emotional and psychological abuse by smiling and pretending to be happy,” Remy added.
She knew that it was wrong but she never had the courage to fight.
Then came the physical abuse. “I cannot do the same for physical abuse. I cannot hide the bruises in my body.”
It was until she had a realization that she does not need to be in a life-threatening situation to stop domestic violence. She recalled the instance she knew that something has to be done.
“I realized that it is wrong. It is wrong that you will allow yourself to be abused. We deserve to be respected and we deserve to live freely, happily and safely. What will become of my children, they too draw strength from me.”
“I did not wait for the time that my life is on 50-50 before I take action. Life is short there is no bonus life, no extension, no unlimited life. When you die, there’s no way for you to actually live life. It’s a waste when I can still be productive and touch other lives,” she recounted.
She sought the help of City Social Welfare and Development Office and other organizations. Eventually, she had psychotherapy.
“I am thankful that there are people and institutions that influenced me and made me realized that it is not right to be always forgiving. Forgiving is good but not to the point that you are being abused,”she shared.
Remy is a master teacher at an elementary school in Catbalogan City. She was married to her husband for 24 years and for the most part of the first 15 years, she endured the physical, emotional and psychological abuse. Now she is legally separated for nine years and has been living a VAW (violence against women) -free life.
“I am very thankful that I have already moved on. I declare that I am a VAW survivor. I am healed,” she said.
During the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, Remy shared her experience and encouraged other women not to tolerate abuse.
Finally, she said, “I am very thankful that I have already moved on. I declare that I am a VAW survivor, I am healed.”
(NBQ/GMT/PIA8-Samar)
I am a VAW survivor; I am healed
Espenido’s return to E. Visayas aborted
Pres. Duterte ordered for his return to Ozamiz City
TACLOBAN CITY- Controversial police officer Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido’s return to the region was aborted after his reassignment was recalled by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte.
This was confirmed by Espenido who said that as a good soldier, he would follow the directive of the President and return to Ozamiz City.
“There is an order for me to return. So, I will follow the order. You know me, I just follow the order (from higher ups),” Espenido, in a phone interview, said.
Espenido was earlier reported to return to Eastern Visayas, two years after he was relieved as chief of police in Albuera, Leyte, considered the bastion of alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.
In his stint as chief of police of Albuera from July 18, 2016 until December 8 of the same year, Espenido conducted a crackdown on the group of Espinosa which led to the arrest of his father, Rolando Espinosa, the then mayor of the town.
The elder Espinosa was later jailed at the Leyte subprovincial jail in Baybay City but was killed on November 5,2016 reportedly in a shootout with members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
According to Espenido, he has been at the Samar Police Provincial headquarters since Tuesday in preparation of his supposed assignment in Calbayog City.
Calbayog City, which is in Samar, was among the areas declared by Pres.Duterte where ‘lawless violence’ reportedly exists reason why he asked for more soldiers and policemen to be deployed there.
But with the order from his Commander-in-Chief, Espenido said that he would return to Ozamiz City on Monday to report, first at the regional Philippine National Headquarter in Cagayan de Oro, before he formally reassume the post.
Asked on the order of the President to ‘wipe off’ those who are engaged in the illegal drugs, particularly the Parojinogs, Espenido said that he has already done it.
“They have been neutralized only that there still remain their hit men who continue (of their illegal drug activities),” he said.
When he was the chief of police of Ozamiz City, Espenido also conducted an anti-drug operations in which during their July 30, 2017 operation, led to the death of Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, among others.
By: Joey A. Gabieta
Palay worth over P44M destroyed due to ‘Samuel’
Covering 3 provinces
TACLOBAN CITY- More than P44 millions of palay were destroyed due to the onslaught of tropical depression ‘Samuel’ that hit the region last week.
Based on the consolidated report of the regional office of the Department of Agriculture (DA), based this city, out of its six provinces, three of them reported palay damages due to Samuel.
These are the provinces of Biliran, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar with damage to their palay production placed at P44.17 million affecting 4,059 farmers with 7,263.15 hectares submerged due to flooding spawned by Samuel.
Of the three provinces, Northern Samar reported the huge damage with P31.81 million involving 1,673 farmers.
About 4,383.77 hectares of palay field went underwater in the province due to Samuel.
The towns of Catubig, Laoang, and Las Navas were the municipalities in Northern Samar that sustained damaged to their palay outputs.
Biliran reported that P4.02 million worth of its palay planted on 275.63 hectares were submerged due to the flooding.
About 285 farmers from the provincial capital Naval were affected.
Eastern Samar, meanwhile, reported of P8.33 million worth of damage to its palay displacing 2,101 farmers and involving 2,603.75 hectares.
Nine of its towns, namely, Arteche, Can-avid, Dolores, Maslog, Oras, San Julian, San Policarpo, Sulat, and Jipapad sustained damages to their agriculture.
On Nov.26, Agriculture Sec. Manny Piñol personally visited the town of Jipapad which was rendered isolated after it was hit by a landslide incident at its access road going to the rest of the province of Eastern Samar.
During his visit, Piñol provided assistance to its 1,746 farmers by giving P5,000 cash; 641 bags of rice seeds and 1,285 bags of fertilizers; two units of irrigation pumps and two units of farm tractors.
About P22.11 million other agricultural crops like vegetables, root crops, and bananas were also damaged due to Samuel. (JOEY A. GABIETA)
Nothing to worry, says Gov. Tan and Rep. Sarmiento
Deployment of soldiers and cops in Samar
CALBAYOG CITY- There is nothing to fear on the planned deployment of soldiers and police in Samar as both Governor Sharee Ann Tan and Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento said that they welcome the coming in of troops to the province.
Samar was among the provinces mentioned where soldiers and policemen are to be boosted due to ‘lawless violence’ existing in these places as cited by Memorandum Order(MO) 32 issued by Malacañang.
Both Gov. Tan and Rep.Sarmiento (1st district) said that the deployment of these forces may just help the province which has been rocked with killing incidents in the past.
Samar has been consistently listed among the country’s hot spots or concerned areas during election time due to the presence of New People’s Army and private armed groups.
Gov. Tan said that she does not see anything wrong with MO 32 as long as the security sector will abide the policy and will not abuse it.
The governor is very optimistic that the order will be properly implemented in Samar.
“It was successfully implemented in Mindanao and supported by the local executives,” Tan, in a text message, said.
For his part, Rep. Sarmiento said that it is his aspiration for the province to have a peaceful existence, especially elections will be held next year.
“When I assumed office in 2016, my ultimate objective is to end the violence (and the) killings that are happening in the province,” he said.
“I am thankful to President Rodrigo Duterte for this effort. I am hoping that this will help in suppressing lawless violence in the province,” Sarmiento added.
Samar for the past years has been haunted by series of killings allegedly perpetuated by private armed groups (PAGs), wherein most of the victims are barangay officials or political party leaders.
“I see this effort of the government as one that can help for the province to attain peace. I hope this will be until the end of the elections,” Sarmiento said.
Sarmiento likewise told Samarnons not to panic because there is no reason for fear with the arrival of additional law enforcers.
“People who are not doing anything wrong should not fear. Why should we fear? These troops will be in the province to protect us and we must thank them,” the solon said.
Meanwhile, Sarmiento asked the military and the police that they should serve and protect the public and not any politicians.
“I am appealing to the members of the military and police to bear in mind that the uniform they are wearing should protect the public. They should not forget that they are serving the Filipino people not a single person; not a politician,” Sarmiento said.
(JENNIFER D. SUMAGANG- ALLEGADO)
DPWH – Leyte 4th DEO to conduct investigation of alleged tree-cutting incident
ORMOC CITY-The 2.8 – kilometer network development project, which is proposed and designed to create a bypass/diversion road that provides an alternate route for travellers from Ormoc City to the municipalities of Merida, Isabel, and Palompon, Leyte is co-implemented by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Regional Office (RO) and Leyte 4th District Engineering Office (DEO).
Package A and Package B has been carried out by Leyte 4th DEO.
In response to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) appeal for the alleged cutting of trees along the on-going construction of the diversion road undertaken by the Leyte 4thDEO – (Package A and B) that encompasses Barangays San Juan, Lao, and Naungan in Ormoc City, the office will administer an investigation on the alleged affected trees cut by the contractor, considering that Package B is yet to be completed.
Based on the survey conducted by the Leyte 4th DEO – Planning and Design Section, mangrove area is located at the end portion of the Package B.
At present, the project is still half way towards the end portion and only traverses on a swamp area with nipa plants.
Leyte 4th DEO is aware of the provision in cutting of trees and reiterates to adhere and comply with existing environmental laws and regulations. (PR)