Victims of violence, abuses set to avail benefits from government

DAVAO ORIENTAL — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has established a rehabilitation program set to benefit victims of torture and the families of the victims of involuntary disappearances. The program which will be pilot-tested in Davao Oriental is called “Healing Intervention Leading to Optimum Management for Victims of Torture and Enforced Disappearance and their Family Members” — locally known as PAGPAAYO.

A committed and functional rehabilitation team from the LGU and regional levels will provide services that will promote healing, rebuilding, reparation, and access to justice for the victim-survivors. In behalf of the Provincial Government, Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the representatives of national agencies and civil society organizations, defining the role of all involved parties in the implementation of the program.

The MOA signing which was held on July 4 at the Grand Conference Room of the Provincial Capitol saw the presence of national agencies: DSWD, Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Department of Justice, Department of Health, and the Department of Interior and Local Government. Included in the signing were also the victims’ families and the Balay Rehabilitation Center.

The program research showed that there was a high incidence of torture and enforced disappearances covering the period from 1983 to 2015. The DSWD is yet to identify the victims who will benefit from the program. CHR Regional Commissioner Director Edmundo Albay said that the “victims of these serious human rights violations are placed outside the protection of the law and therefore cannot avail of existing safeguards provided by the state. The Commission sees the provision of a rehabilitation program as a manifestation of due regard to the human rights of said victims.” (Sr. Marieta Alo, OND with Riza M. Golez)