Caraga RTF-ELCAC to provide better access for legal services

Caraga RTF-ELCAC to provide better access for legal services Regional News

BUTUAN CITY - In the recent 3rd Regular Meeting of the Legal Cooperation Cluster (LCC) of Caraga Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) held recently here, the said cluster vows to better the provision of legal services By Doreen Marielle N. Rosales especially during service caravans, as agreed upon by its members.

LCC chairperson and regional prosecutor Atty. John S. Magdaraog called for the members of the cluster to discuss the programs and plans for the current year 2020.

One of the major discussions in the meeting is the creation of a more organized comprehensive database of incidents and criminal cases involving the communist terrorist groups (CTGs). Atty. Magdaraog said that there is an observed incongruence of the data submitted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Caraga with that possessed by the Prosecutors Office (PO).

In response, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Caraga regional director Ferdausi Cerna and PNP Caraga representative PCapt. Junalyn Suan

Cases involving CTGs

According to the data presented during the meeting, a total of 1,137 cases have been reported in the region, comprising of 300 cases filed from the province of Agusan del Sur; 348 cases in Agusan del Norte; 252 cases in Surigao del Sur and; 233 cases in Surigao del Norte yet only over 766 cases have been duly filed in the Prosecutors Office. In Agusan del Norte, only 280 cases were officially documented, 155 of which were duly filed. Only about 91 cases were validated by the cluster’s Secretariat as of December 31, 2019. Over 10 of these complaints were withdrawn during the preliminary investigation (PI); one complaint was partially dismissed during PI. Eighty complaints were filed during the preliminary investigation. database, the cluster can handle cases against CTGs better, especially with the strengthened implementation of the Executive Order No. 70 in the country. LCC 2020 plans and projects

Magdaraog also raised the issue concerning the lack of beneficiaries of their legal services, as observed during the recent 4th RTF-ELCAC Peace Caravan in Brgy. Mt. Carmel, Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.

Moreover, 53 complaints are awaiting trial, 23 have been archived and four were dismissed.

Among the total number of cases from the specified province, 131 complaints involved murder/homicide, both frustrated and attempted; seven complaints involved arson; one complaint involved kidnapping; two complaints involved robbery; one complaint involved trafficking in person (TIP) and; one complaint involved inciting in sedition.

With the improved comprehensive As such, the cluster has proposed of erecting a booth exclusive for legal services provided by LCC and intensified awareness campaign by distributing information, education and communication campaign (IEC) materials with the cooperation of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga.

In addition, the airing of a Legal Hour radio program was also proposed, wherein line agencies are able to inform the public of the legalities of certain issues relating to their respective mandates. (DMNR/VLG/PIA-Caraga) February 22-28, 2020 Caraga Infocus 15