2 THE BIG NEWS
VOL.5 ISSUE 260 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2013
Grade 6 pupil stabs HS stude to death
EDGEDAVAO
By EJ Dominic Fernandez and Che Palicte
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grade six pupil stabbed and killed a 17-year old high school student at the Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Central Elementary School in Ponciano Reyes St. Davao City, yesterday morning. The 17-year old victim is a third year high school student of Davao City National High School while the suspect is only 14 years old. Police Inspector Rechely Bahan, deputy officer of Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) said that the crime was a result of a gang war. The suspect said pleaded self defense and retaliated only by stabbing the victim after the latter beat him up. Bahan added that the
suspect rushed to the guidance office and admitted the stabbing. According to the campus guard, the bloodied victim ran to him for help, but he collapsed to the ground before reaching the gate. The victim was stabbed in the chest near the lower part of the armpit that caused his death. The guard said he did not conduct stop and frisk inspection at the gate due to the thousands of students entering the school. Mrs. Merlinda Amistoso, the KTMSCES principal said that she called Central 911 and San Pedro Police station to report the incident. “This is the first time that this incident hap-
FGRADE 6, 9
Davao airport blast recalled
By Che Palicte
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ED by no less than Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, survivors, relatives and friends of victims of the March 4, 2003 bombing of Francisco Bangoy International Airport gathered where it happened –in the waiting shed fronting the old airport terminal --to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of the incident, last Monday. Duterte who was the mayor at the time of the bombing leads his fellow Dabawenyos in remembering the horrific incident every year. To recall, a homemade bomb exploded at the waiting shed, killing 20 and wounding at least 146 others. The fatalities included two American missionaries, while two other American nationals sustained injuries.
The waiting shed blast is the worst in the history of the city in terms of number of victims, surpassing even the number of victims in the 1981 and 1993 bombings of San Pedro Cathedral. Among the victims were taxi drivers, airport porters, vendors and those waiting for relatives and friends arriving on board Cebu Pacific Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Air Philippines. The families and friends of the victims as well as survivors offered flowers, lighted candles and said prayers in the area where the bomb. “Authorities should be vigilant 24 hours because terrorism remains a threat to the lives of the people, not only in the Philippines but to the whole world,” Vice Mayor Duterte said.
SCHOOL STABBING. A high school student of the Davao City National High School lies lifeless after being stabbed to death inside the Kapitan Tomas Monteverde Sr. Elementary School along Ponciano Reyes Street, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.
Church leaders snub RH Law consultation But DOH still wants to work with religious leaders
By EJ Dominic Fernandez
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EADERS of the Catholic Church and other religious organizations in Davao City were a no-show in the first leg of the public consultation on the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 10354 or responsible parenthood and reproductive health law. The consultation dubbed as “Usapang Kalusugang Pampamilya” was conducted by Department of Health at the Garden Oasis in Barrio Obrero. Unfazed by the snub, DOH officials said “there are no reasons why the church can’t work with
us.” DOH assistant secretary Madeleine Valera said Health Secretary Enrique Ona welcomes with open arms the concerns and issues of the church and will even provide funds and support for natural family planning associated with scientific standards.” Dr. Valera said representatives of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have been with us in every part of the development of drafting RA 10354, and there are portions where they expressed acceptance while there are portions where they are still
hesitant to agree with.” In a text message, retired Davao Archbishop, Fernando Capalla said, while it is true that abortion is prohibited by the RH law, but many of the approved family planning methods and pharmaceuticals can cause abortion.” Valera said that the people can express their objection or rejection in line with their religious and traditional beliefs, but the law is “very specific” stating that there must be no prevention on access of quality services and that the people should endorse and refer those who needs the health service to the ap-
FCHURCH LEADERS, 9
Dabawenyos favor efforts to reach peace
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BUSINESS IS GOOD. This lady meat seller in Bangkerohan Public Market is enjoying a fine day at the market. Meat sales are up on weekdays except for Fridays when Roman Catholics fast in observance of the Lenten season. (Lean Daval, Jr.)
propriate health care facilities. The first leg of the consultation was supposed to be held in Manila, but due to lack of preparation, it was held instead in Davao City. After Davao City, the next forum will be today in Cebu City. The final leg will be in Manila where Valera hopes religious organizations can attend as DOH welcomes everyone from different government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), local government units (LGUs), development partners, academe and from the religious organizations to attend the
Say FAB is needed step Think it will pave way to lasting, just peace
N OVERWHELMING majority of Dabawenyos favor the current efforts of the Philippine government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front to achieve just and lasting peace in Mindanao. This is the finding of the Institute of Popular Opinion (IPO), a survey agency established by the University of Mindanao, to measure the public pulse on burning issues of the day, similar to the Manila-based Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia.
Need for FAB In a survey by IPO on 1,200 people from all walks of life in Davao City during the period from January 26 to February 7, it was found that seven out of 10 Dabawenyos think that Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) is needed by Mindanao in order to achieve just and lasting peace in the land whose unpeace occasionally spills over to Metro Manila and other parts of the archipelago. The survey results
FDABAWENYOS, 9