Republic of the Philippines Department of Justice PAROLE AND

Republic of the Philippines
Department of Justice
PAROLE AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION
Regional Office No. 7, Cebu City
December 10, 2010
Hon. MANUEL G. CO
OIC-Administrator
PAROLE AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION
DOJ Agencies Bldg., NIA Road corner East Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City
Sir:
Enclosed is the Post-Activity Report of the “Cities for Life – Cities Against Death Penalty”
Declarations of Cebu City and City of Talisay, Cebu. The same had also been e-mailed to
oa@probation.gov.ph
Please acknowledge receipt hereof.
Very truly yours,
OFELIA E. QUIJANO
Regional Director
cc:
Comunita di Sant’Egidio-Philippines
OEQ/ces
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Justice
PAROLE AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION
Regional Office No. 7, Cebu City
POST-ACTIVITY REPORT
“Cities for Life – Cities Against Death Penalty”
Background
The
Parole
and
Probation
Administration, Region VII, first heard of the
“Cities for Life – Cities Against Death Penalty”
from then NCR Regional Director, now OICAdministrator, Manuel G. Co in his July 2010
visit to Region VII. After, the idea was floated
to a few officers in the region in meetings, and
search on it for the web launched. Ruefully,
we could not access enough information about
the project and “Cities for Life” search did not
give us any lead. The only information found
was in the website of Mandaluyong City which
carried a picture of its 8th International Day
inclusion in the Cities for Life.
It was only on November 2, 2010 that
preparations for the November 30, 2010
activity started. Armed with the report from
the Integrated Corrections Association of the
Philippines, Inc. (ICAP) on the 8th International
Day “Cities for Life, Cities Against Death
Penalty” - Mandaluyong City and researches
from the web, particularly the website of
Comunita di Sant’Egidio, the region was now
ready to embark on this international project.
A committee meeting was called upon
by Parole and Probation Administration,
Region VII Director, Ofelia E. Quijano on
November 5, 2010. Present were ARD Al C.
Cainglet and Regional PIO Ceres I. Geromo for
the region; Cebu City Chiefs - CPPOs Ma.
Bernadette M. Garcia and Hannah C. Villamor
for Cebu City; and CPPO Laura A. Llena for
Talisay City.
Mandaluyong City Marker 2009 Unveiling from the web
Visit of RD Ofel, RPIO Ceres and CPPO Laura to City of
Talisay Vice Mayor Alan G. Bucao, 09Nov2010
The letter for City of Talisay Mayor Socrates C.
Fernandez was left with his Secretary Lolita W. Ylaya.
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Justice
PAROLE AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION
Regional Office No. 7, Cebu City
POST-ACTIVITY REPORT
“Cities for Life – Cities Against Death Penalty”
Background, cont.
A Brief (Annex 1) was crafted to explain
why Parole and Probation Administration was
getting involved in this project, which also
included the objectives and tasks involved.
Communications were made and sent to His
Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal (Annex 2)
for his endorsement to the cities; to Cebu City
Mayor Michael L Rama (Annex 3) and City of
Talisay Mayor Socrates C. Fernandez (Annex 4)
for their endorsement of the project to their
respective Vice Mayors and their Sanggunians.
CEBU CITY AS CITY FOR LIFE
With RD Ofelia E. Quijano, Cebu City
Chief Probation and Parole Officers Ma.
Bernadette M. Garcia and Hannah C. Villamor
coordinated with the Cebu City Hall officers:
Hon. Vice Mayor Joy Augustus G. Young, the
Council’s Presiding Officer; Committee on
Laws Chair & City Councilor Edgardo C. Labella,
consistent supporter of the activities of the
Parole and Probation Administration Region
VII; Atty. Jose Marie Poblete, City
Administrator and Ms. Margie, Councilor
Labella’s staff.
The Cebu City’s Unveiling Program
(Annex 5) on December 2, 2010 at the Social
Hall, City Hall, was graced by no less than Cebu
City Mayor, the Hon. Michael L. Rama, who not
only gave his Message but personally unveiled
and read the Marker, the Testament to Cebu
City being a City for Life (Video Clip 3) .
The Cardinal’s endorsement of the project to Cebu City
Unveiling Cebu City Testament as a City for Life
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Justice
PAROLE AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION
Regional Office No. 7, Cebu City
POST-ACTIVITY REPORT
“Cities for Life – Cities Against Death Penalty”
City Administrator Atty. Jose Marie
Poblete (Video Clip 1) welcomed us to the
activity.
Comunita di Sant’Egidio Philippine
Coordinator Mary Grace Candol gave the
Statement of Purpose of the activity.
Hon. Edgardo C. Labella, the Cebu City
Council’s Majority Floor Leader, emphatically
read Resolution No. 12-14444-2010 dated 19
November 2010 (Annex 6), which resolved to
establish and light a “City for Life” marker to
affirm their expression of an “authentic culture
and civilization of life: No Justice Without Life!
No to Death Penalty” (Video Clip 2).
Parole and Probation Administration’s
OIC-National Administrator Manny G. Co gave
his message (Video Clip 4) on Restorative
Justice, PPA-DOJ’s basic philosophy and
program thrust. The agency’s belief in the
goodness of man broadens to the belief that
man can change for the better if given the
chance.
City Administrator Atty. Jose Marie Poblete welcomes
guests to Cebu City Social Hall and the activity
Representing Comunita di Sant’Egidio of Rome is Mary
Grace Candol who explained the need to enlist a city as a
City for Life.
Msgr. Roger Fuentes, who represented
the Archdiocese of Cebu, read the message
(Video Clip 5) from His Eminence Ricardo J.
Cardinal Vidal, as the latter was attending a
gathering of 87 catechists from 17 churches in
Balamban, Cebu.
The following councilors also witnessed
the unveiling: Hon. Alvin M. Dizon, Hon. Alvin
B. Arcilla, Hon. Nida C. Cabrera, and Hon.
Margarita V. Osmeňa.
Main movant of the Resolution, Councilor Edgardo C.
Labella reads the Council’s Resolution for City for Life
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Justice
PAROLE AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION
Regional Office No. 7, Cebu City
POST-ACTIVITY REPORT
“Cities for Life – Cities Against Death Penalty”
Also present were Hon. Meinrado P.
Paredes, RTC Executive Judge, Hon. Francisco
Seville, MTCC Executive Judge, Senior Supt.
Noel Ybarsabal of BJMP, IBP President Michael
Yu, selected City Hall Department Heads and
members of the press
Media coverage of the event came out
in national (GMA7) and local (CCTN-inTV47)
television on December 2 and December 3;
and in national and local dailies on November
19, 2010, November 20, November 26, and
December 3, 2010 via SunStar Cebu, The
Freeman, Cebu Daily News, Banat News,
SunStar Super Balita and the Philippine Daily
Inquirer. The news clips (Annexes 9 & 10) can
also be accessed on the web.
Of course, being the organizer of this
International
Event,
Cebu
City-based
employees of the Parole and Probation
Administration came in full force. Thirty (30)
PPAVII Regional Staff, Cebu City Parole and
Probation Office Nos. 1 & 2 Staff witnessed the
activity.
Personnel from the different media outfits in Cebu cover
the activity
DOJ-Parole and Probation Administration’s OIC-National
Administrator Manuel G. Co talks on Restorative Justice.
Msgr. Roger Fuentes, Rector of San Carlos Seminary,
reads the Message of His Eminence Ricardo J. Cardinal
Hon. Councilors Alvin Arcilla, Margot Osmena & Edgardo
Labella, BJMP’s Noel Ybarsabal and other guests
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Justice
PAROLE AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION
Regional Office No. 7, Cebu City
POST-ACTIVITY REPORT
“Cities for Life – Cities Against Death Penalty”
Cebu City’s Testament, in black marble, that it is a City
for Life
Officers from the Parole and Probation Administration
together with Msgr. Fuentes listen intently to the Mayor
News Clip - SunStar Cebu, 19 November 2010
RTC Executive Judge Meinrado Paredes, MTCC Executive
Judge Francisco Seville, also attended the activity.
RD Ofelia Quijano signs the Petition for Moratorium on
Death Penalty
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Justice
PAROLE AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION
Regional Office No. 7, Cebu City
POST-ACTIVITY REPORT
“Cities for Life – Cities Against Death Penalty”
THE CITY OF TALISAY IS FOR LIFE
On the same day, December 2, 2010, at
3:30 pm, the City of Talisay also declared to the
world that it is a City for Life – a City against
Death Penalty in a Launching and Lighting
Ceremony held at the façade of its City Hall.
Personnel from the Vice Mayor’s Office
decorated the city hall frontage with a cute
tarpaulin signage and a string of coloured stars
which were lighted during the ceremony.
Officers of the Talisay City Parole and
Probation Office, headed by CPPO Laura A.
Llena, directly coordinated with the city
officials in preparation of this activity.
The impressive facade of the City Hall, City of Talisay,
where the City for Life Declaration was held, 02Dec2010
The Program (Annex 7) started
promptly at 3:30 p.m. when the officials of the
city, led by its mayor and vice mayor, gathered
at the façade at the exact time.
After the Prayer and the National
Anthem, Hon. Alan G. Bucao, Vice Mayor of
the City of Talisay, delivered his Welcome
Address (Video Clip 6). Hon. Bucao made
possible the coming out of the Council
Resolution supporting Cities for Life on
November 16, which he jokingly said was his
birthday gift to PPA7 Regional Director Ofelia E.
Quijano. The 4th Sangguniang Panlungsod, in
its 17th Session on November 15, 2010, passed
4th SP Resolution No. 2010-98 (Annex 8)
strongly supporting the International Day,
Cities for Life – Cities against Death Penalty.
Vice Mayor Alan G. Bucao, (above) main proponent of
the City Council Resolution for the City for Life welcomes
guests (below) to the City of Talisay.
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Justice
PAROLE AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION
Regional Office No. 7, Cebu City
POST-ACTIVITY REPORT
“Cities for Life – Cities Against Death Penalty”
Ms. Mary Grace Candol, Philippine
representative of the Comunita di Sant’Egidio,
introduced her community, their charity work
and their purpose, i.e. advocacy for Life and
signature collection for the U.N. Moratorium
against Death Penalty.
Ably representing His Eminence Ricardo
J. Cardinal Vidal, Msgr. Ruben Labajo of St.
Joseph Parish of Tabunoc, City of Talisay, read
the message from the cardinal.
Hon. Manuel G. Co, OIC-Administrator
of the Parole and Probation Administration,
the lead agency coordinating for the inclusion
of the cities in the Honor List – Cities for Life,
gave his Message to the Talisaynons.
Ms. Mary Grace Candol introduces Comunita di Sant’
Egidio to the City of Talisay community (above), while
Mayor Soc, OIC Manny, CSE’s Jenny and RD Ofel enjoy
listening to her (below)
This was followed by the gospel-based
Message (Video Clips No. 7,8 &9) of City of
Talisay’s own mayor, Hon. Socrates C.
Fernandez. He said that it was really Jesus
who first amended the death penalty, when he
said to the woman’s accuser that “he who has
no sin cast the first stone” and told the woman
“to go and sin no more.” He also stressed that
“it is forgiveness that is the dosage to have
peace!”
Important personalities from the City of
Talisay joined Mayor Soc, Vice Mayor Alan, OIC
Co, RD Ofelia Quijano, ARD Al Cainglet and Ms.
Candol in the Unveiling of the Marker (Replica)
and the Candle Lighting Ceremony.
Hon. Mayor Socrates C. Fernandez rises to take the stage
for his Message.
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Justice
PAROLE AND PROBATION ADMINISTRATION
Regional Office No. 7, Cebu City
POST-ACTIVITY REPORT
“Cities for Life – Cities Against Death Penalty”
The event was also covered by the
television (GMA7) and print media(SunStar
Cebu.
Along with Regional Director Ofelia E.
Quijano and ARD Al C. Cainglet, Probation and
Parole Officers from PPA South Cluster
composing the City of Talisay, and the nearby
offices of Cebu Province PPO in Argao, Carcar
City, Toledo City, were present during the
activity – the Parole and Probation
Administration having first spearheaded this
activity in Central Visayas and in the Visayas.
Msgr. Ruben Labajo reads the Message of His Eminence
Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal
Mayor Soc, Vice Mayor Alan and OIC Manny initiate the
Candle Lighting Ceremony
Vice Mayor Alan G. Bucao leads the signing of the
petition for Moratorium on Death Penalty
Members of the Press also covered the City of Talisay’s
inclusion in the Honors List – Cities for Life
SunStar Cebu top stories of 03 December 2010 included
the Cities for Life activities in Cebu and Talisay Cities