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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Thursday, January 10, 2013

Daet to join the first Sister Cities International Inaugural Gala in the U.S.

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- The municipal government of Daet has been invited to join the first Sister Cities International Inaugural Gala on January 17 at the United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

Mayor Tito Sarte-Sarion will represent the town together with other mayors in several cities and municipalities and other national officials as delegates of this country.

Mary D. Kane, president of Sister Cities International in his letter to Mayor Tito Sarion said as their national family does every four years, they will embrace the uniquely American tradition of the inauguration of the President of the United States, their honorary chairperson, this time for President Barack Obama.

She added that to celebrate the important day in the life cycle of their nation, the first Sister Cities International Inaugural Gala will showcase the important role of everyday citizen diplomats in their national efforts to promote peace and prosperity around the world.

She said Daet has been an essential partner and advocate in spreading the message of citizen diplomacy around the globe.

The participation in the said event will afford the participants the opportunity to be recognized their commitment to international diplomacy, celebrating the powerful impact of relationships formed across borders by citizens. (MAL/RBM-PIA5/Camarines Norte)


No reason to re-impose death penalty – Sen. Escudero
By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- A Bicolano senator sees no reason to reinstate the death penalty, supporting President Aquino’s position amid calls for its re-imposition following a series of gun-related incidents in the country.

Senator Francis Escudero, chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said that the death penalty will not stop criminals from carrying out their crimes.

“I have always said that it is still the certainty of punishment, not its severity, that will deter crimes,” Escudero said in a statement.

The senator, who voted to remove the death penalty from the country’s statute books in 1990, said strict implementation of the law, proper application of the justice system and protection by government law enforcement agents carrying out the law will deter crime.

Escudero added that even if the death penalty is in place, criminals, especially the wealthy ones, will still find ways to escape the arms of the law.

He cited the likes of Jovito Palparan, charged with a non-bailable offense, the Reyes brothers of Palawan accused as master minds in the death of a journalist and environmental advocate and Delfin Lee, accused of exploiting thousands of poor housing aspirants.

“Where are they? They can afford to hire good, expensive lawyers to keep them out of jail and outside the reach of the law,” Escudero said.

While acknowledging that criminals have become emboldened to perpetuate heinous crimes, it is still the certainty of punishment and not the kind and nature of punishment that will deter the commission of crimes.

“Let no one go above or around the law. No sacred cows, apply the law to those who are guilty, have been found guilty. We have to improve and perfect our country’s criminal justice system, it should be strictly applied to make it valid and credible,” Escudero said. (MAL-PIA5/Albay/Office of Sen. Escudero)

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