CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews/08 March) – The issue of violence against women took center-stage during the commemoration of International Women’s Day Tuesday, with nongovernment organizations sounding the alarm bells on abuses against women that have plagued the city recently, including the discovery of chopped body parts of a woman.
A suspected drug addict, Norvin Valmoria who was arrested by police in Barangay 31 on Monday confessed to killing and cutting into pieces a woman.
The chopped body parts were discovered two weeks ago.
The NGO Partners Inc. which anchors the Girls Alert campaign recorded at least 30 sexual abuses in the city last year and “observed that women still bear the brunt of violent abuses.”
Minors of high school age and women who are economically distressed are the usual targets of sexual deviants who hold positions of power according the Girls Alert campaign.
Among the documented cases involved a police officer, an American expatriate and two Swedish nationals, according to Tubaga, a movement that focuses on violence against women and children.
PO1 Lonie Rementizo, a member of the Cagayan de Oro Police, is now at large after several cases have been filed against him for allegedly sexually abusing at least three minors.
He was arrested last year inside a motel in the company of minors.
American expatriates James Naquin and James Leon Edler are facing cases of sexual abuse against children.
Swedish nationals Bo Stefan Sederholms and Emil Andreas Solemo were arrested last year for allegedly operating a cybersex den in Barangay Kauswagan.
The Tubaga Movement and the Girls Alert campaign have been barnstorming public high schools in the city to raise awareness among students, teachers and parents on women’s and children’s rights.
“This campaign is done after series of abuses have been reported happening to women of high school ages,” said Stan Salcedo, executive director of Partners Inc.
Lalae Garcia, Tubaga Movement convenor said that they are now tightly monitoring the cases involving violence against women.
Garcia said that the campaign has been stepped up in public high schools in the city namely, Cagayan National High School, Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive High School, Lapasan National High School, Macabalan National High School, Bayabas National High School, Bugo National High School, Puntod National High School and Consolacion National High School.
“Investing in the future of young women contributes to creating a more humane world,” Salcedo said. (BenCyrus G. Ellorin/MindaNews)