Davao Oriental LGU told --- “Listen to your peoples’ grievances”

A church group appealed to Davao Oriental’s provincial government to heed the evacuees’ plea to stop the military operations in certain militarized sitios and barangays in the municipalities of Baganga, Cateel and Boston .

The Promotion of Peoples’ Church Response (PCPR) encouraged the provincial government to listen to the victims’ sentiments. The PCPR, a group composed of church leaders and workers joined the evacuees and human rights violations victims from Cateel and Baganga in addressing the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Davao Oriental Province yesterday.

“We urge the LGU to listen to the grievances of their people. Instead of dismissing the peoples’ complaints, initiate prompt action within the LGU’s mandate and see how the government can work for the people,” said Reverend Jurie Jaime, acting secretary general of the PCPR.

Reverend Jaime noted concern over the military’s “tagging” of the victims and of the organizations that represent the victims.

“Peoples’ issues should not be buried with the labeling of people or organizations facilitating the victims’ complaints. The LGU should instead focus on the grievances expressed by the people, the victims. The problem is that the victims who profess their problems are considered nuisance and the LGU is constrained by their desire to cover-up the issue to save face,” Reverend Jaime said.

The PCPR will conduct prayer meetings and dialogues among other church leaders and members to gather more support for the evacuees who are seeking shelter in the grace of church support groups. (Press Release: Reverend Jurie Jaime Acting Secretary General Promotion of Peoples’ Church Response (PCPR)