C: I now call the Committee Hearing on the Committee on Human Rights to order.

Brother Secretary,
can you acknowledge the attendees?

S: Thank you Mr. Chairman, in today’s hearing we have Hon. Randolph Joseph P. Arreola, Hon.
Alfredo v. Alili, Hon. Abegail V. Sable, Hon Ed Christian S. Go, and Hon. Gretchen F. Valdez. Our
Guests Mr. Chairman, we have Madam Erlinda C. Factora, SB Member, Madam Christy P. Sukwano,
SB Secretary.

C: Good afternoon ma’am Erlinda, so kayo yung pumalit, what happened to Julie Amante?

E: She lost sir.

C: She lost in the mid election, this executive order was passed after the election, now the case in
point is the executive order, it’s not actually an ordinance or resolution coming from the
Sangguniang Bayan but it is an executive order and under the duties and functions of the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan, one of the matters that we review aside from the resolutions and
ordinances passed by the Sangguniang Bayan are the Executive Orders passed by the Municipal
Mayor. Now the case in point is Executive Order no. 18 series of 2019. Before anything else, may we
just ask the SP present here to say something or to welcome as the Vice – Chairman, SP Alili.

SP A: Thank you for coming, officials of LGU Divilcan, nandito tayo para lang talakayin itong malliit na
bagay, itong mga National Laws natin, na may konting, nakita namin na medyo I’explain lang kasi
medyo ano yung last part ng inyong resolution so hopefully we can make it today para pagbalik niyo
ma’approve na itong resolutions niyo yun lang, thank you very much.

C: SP Gretchen is here although she is not a member of the Committee on Human Rights but she is a
Member of the Committee on Women’s Affairs, kaya siya nandito, in fact, itong Executive Order niyo
is pertaining to Human Trafficking and VAWC. This Executive Order, I do not see any problem except,
on the latter part as mentioned. First, the composition is okay but in the functions particularly in no.
1 you said “To institute policies and programs to protect women and children who are victims of
Human Trafficking and violence” up to that point, no problem, but when you said and enact local
ordinance and resolution, the Committee which is being created here cannot enact local ordinance
and resolution, that is a reserve only to the Sangguniang Bayan, even the Municipal Mayor cannot
enact, he could propose but only SB. So I just want to know why is it that this phrase was included in
the functions of the Committee.

SB E: Thank you sir, when our secretary informed me regarding this matter ang sabi ko sa kanya
“meron palang ganito?” since umupo ako nung July, nakita ko ito, binasa ko na dahil doon yung,
dating SB po siya, siya ang may hawak ditto sa women’s, Committee on Women’s and walfare, so
ako ngayon ang humahawak sir, so nung binigay sa akin, tignan ko nga yan, kasi that was addressed
to pass SB Julie Amante, so since na ako ngayon kinuha ako ni ito, I review and sinabi ko sa SB
Secretary naming na I went to the Office of the Governor to contact with Sir Arreola. I’m trying to
contact you sir noon pero dalawang beses kasi kinausap ko yung staff mo sir, ngayon dahil doon sa
bagyo kaya bumalik ako, ngayon nandito kami sir at try na naming maki coordinate sayo, ito na nga
sir, pinakita ko ito sa Mayor’s Office namin sa executive niya at nakalagay ito, at alam natin sir na yun
ay local ordinance and resolutions are not, they are not authorize na sa executive legislation lang ito
separation of powers executive and legislation so kami lang so eto kasi executive as you mentioned
sir na hindi nila power so ito, may I ask my SB Secretary kasi pass, secretary siya nag receive, nag
receive sila noon, pero ini’inform ko yung Mayor’s Office sir na regarding that matterna
naka’indicate ito, sabi nila they will try to contact na maki’join sa hearing so andito kami sir pero
kung yun ang di pwede ditto sir as you recommend na after the violation, traffic and violation, what’s
you recommend there, so we will remove that “enact local ordinances and resolutions”.

C: Yes, but it could not be done by the Sangguniang Bayan because this emanated from the Local
Chief Executive, that’s why I was expecting somebody from the Executive Department would come
kasi puro Legislative yung nandito so there is no reason why it was there? We are first asking why is
it that it is there? Baka meron kayong ibang ibig sabihin na baka iba lang yung pagkaka’sabi kaya
kailangang I’cure natin dahil kailangan nating ma’correct ito, so ano ang sabi ng executive niyo? Kasi
sa kanila galling ito, executive order ito, hindi natin pwedeng I’cure sa Sanggunian yan.

SB E: Pero kinausap ko po yung executive secretary, na ito nga ang question kasi noong sinabi ng
staff na dito ang portion. Ang sabi naman sir, sabihin k okay Mayor kasi executive order ito, hindi sa
amin galling ito

C: Anong sabi ni mayor?

SBE: Yung executive niya lang sir ang nakausap ko.

C: So wala pang advise?

SBE: Hindi ko po siya na’contact noon sir, only the Executive niya lang sir.

C: Kayo po SP Secretary ano po ang masasabi niyo?

SBS: Ganito po kasi yan so, nung dumating po si SB Factora sa first meeting po sana na hindi natuloy
dahil nagkaroon po ng bagyo, bale ang nangyari po, eto yung isang kinukwestyon ng Committee kasi
merong enact ordinances na nakalagay, sinabi ko rin po yan dun sa mismong gumawa nung mismong
gumawa doon sa office po ni mayor and ang sabi po kasi niya is copy – paste yung Executive Order,
so alam niyo naman kako madam na hindi ho saklaw ng executive yung ganitong trabaho, more on
Legislative function yan and then anyway sabi ko, timely enough kasi napalitan naman na yung
Committee Chair on Women, so ire’re – organize na lang po siguro natin and then kapag na re –
organize yun, that’s the time na i’ correct nalang po yung E.O. kasi hindi naman na po si SB Amante
yung Chairman ngayon ng Committee. Wala pong reason behind kung bakit nailagay yun, kundi po
copy paste yun po ang sagot sa akin.

C: Nagduda lang kami kasi meron pang open – close parenthesis

SBS: Yun nga sir e, parang may emphasis pa kas nagkaroon ng open – close parenthesis, pero yun
lang pot alga yung rason nung gumawa po.

C: So paano ii’invalid name ito.

SBS: And I’m not sure sir if the Mayor is already aware of the issue kasi ang kausap palang po naming
is yung assistant niya, so we are not aware if his assistant was able to discuss it with the Mayor
already. Pero sabi nga namin timely enough for the re’organization naman.

C: So it appears now that there is no reason for the provisionon placing of the phrase “enact local
ordinance and resolutions” because as it is, the section, this would be considered invalid. In
resolutions we could just say noted but in ordinances and even in executive orders it’s only valid or
invalid so, we could not say invalid in part.so I think before we communicate our findings when you
go back Divilacan immediately you make your re – organization. Ang problema po natin dito kung
may mga actions na ginawa itong composed na committee pag sinabing invalid ito, ultra vires act
lahat ang ginawa nila, ibig sabihin walang effect mag mula nung ine’enact ito noong may, meron na
bang ginawa? Na action itong committee? Or wala pa naman?

SBE: Wala pa naman

SPA: So ano ang gagawin natin dito? Babalik o tanggalin nalang totally yung no. 1?

C: Hindi nila pwedeng tanggalin yung no.1 dahil yun yung main function nila e, siguro ang I’suggest
naming, re – organize immediately and come up with a new executive order, ang pwede niyong
ilagay dito if I may suggest instead of enact local ordinance and resolution, propose appropriate
ordinance and recruit resolution, or propose for the enactment or propose local ordinance and
resolution concerning your matter, so itong gagawin natin para naman hindi ma’invalid baka ang
I’note nalang naming return to sender for further study.

SPG: Thank you Mr. Presiding Officer, katulad po ng sinabi ni BM Arreola, para hindi siya
ma’invalidate to rectify yun nalang siguro yung aayusin, yung paragraph na iyan, paragraph 1, but I
suggest since nandito po yung Committee Chair on Women it’s better if the Executive Department of
the Municipality of Divilacan would write a letter to the Legislative Department in order for you to
draft and enact a Local Ordinance to respond in the issue of violence against women and children,
for I think it is mandatory and even the creation of VAWC desk of every barangays para maging
maayos siya na hindi lang siya executive order,kasi medyo may problema sa institute policies na
nakalagay kasi trabaho talaga ng legislative department ang pag – gawa, pag – draft ng Local Policies,
implementation lang naman yung sa executive department.

C: Now we will be making a ruling, E.O. no. 018 series of 2019 the recommendation of the
Committee on Human rights is to refer back this executive order to the source of origin for further
study since the function number 1 particularly the enactment of Local Ordinance and resolution is an
ultra vires act of the created Committee only the Sangguniang Bayan of Divilacan could enact Local
Ordinances and resolutions, so ordered.

SBE: Thank you sir.

C: Any other matters you wish to take up?

SB S: Is it necessary na may Chairmanship din sa Sangguniang Bayan, yung Anti – trafficking? Kasi we
only have mandatory Committees such as yung women, family and welfare pero as to human
trafficking wala pa po.

C: If my understanding is correct, itong crineate na Committee ng Executive, is merely an Executive

Committee, iba ito doon sa Committee ng Sanggunian, ito ay a Committee created by Executive
Department performing executive functions, it so happen na yung Committee on women e, member.
Pwede talagang mag create ang executive ng committee na gusto niya, para makatulong sa kanya sa
pag iimplement o pag execute ng mga batas pero sa Sanggunian, kung gusto niyong gumawa naman
ng separate Committee niyo para sa women, sa atin meron diba? Sa women and VAWC kasama na
iyan, may women na kayo e, pwede niyong isama yung functions doon, kung gusto niyo naman mag
create ng separate Committee nasa inyo na yan pero you have to amend yung inyong IRR. You have
to amend your IRR in such a way that there should be an additional Commmittee and then the
members would be so and so. nasa sa inyo yun. Different yun yung Committee sa Sangguniang
Bayan, ito iba kasi ito, Executive Committee itong crineate, ngayon ang ginawa nila parang
Legislative – Executive Committee, LEDAC yung ginawa nila, kaya nag invite sila ng member galling sa
kwan, ito parang joint committee ng Executive at Legislative.

SB S: Kasi parang ngayon lang naman ata nagkaroon ng ganyang issue ngayon e, doon nga po ako
nagtataka, doon sa sinabing copy – paste, how come na yung mga executive order on this matter e
walang patawag, walang kinukwestyon na item, kung talagang copy – paste yan.

C: Hindi rin ibig – sabihin na kapag naka’lusot ka ngayon, legal na, maaaring nakalusot sila noon,
baka hindi sa Committee ko na I’refer.kasi sa aking Committee, Human rights ang nai’refer ngayon e.

SP A: Tanong ko lang ma’am ano ang status, sa inyong palagay anong status ng VAWC niyo ngayon?
Ano ang nangyayari sa VAWC programs niyo ngayon? Yung current, ano ang visibility? Ano ang
status ng buong Divilacan sa seguridad ng VAWC at ng sa LGAD

SBE: As of now sir for the previous, pagka may naririnig naman ako sir na ganitong issues pag
nangyayari sa buong Divilacan, agad naming umaaksyon ang aming MS at pinapatawag niya, tapos
pupunta sila sa Barangays, ano nangyari dun sa bata? Ano nangyari sa mag –asawa? Aksyon naman
agad yung aming MS, kapag may na’abuse naman agad namng dinadala dito sa labas with their
assistance na financial at tsaka dinadala rin dito sa MS, dito sa Provincial

C: May kaso rin pala doon sa inyo?

SBE: Marami din sir.

C: Walang silbi abogado doon sa inyo

SBE: Lalo yung mga bta sir, may mga under – age na naabuso by either their relatives, kapit bahay
lalo na isolated kami so doon sa ibang Barangay wala silang libangan kundi nandun sila sa bundok,
na nakikita nila sa environment nila, na napagtri’tripan yung kapitbahay nila or whatever, pero its
good na active yung MS naming ngayon, pag meron, agad naming nirereport sa Baranggay Officials,
Kapitan, at aksyon agad ng aming MS as of now wala pa namn akong naririnig na hindi pa unsolved
kasi dito na po dinadala sa labas, yung sa case nandun sa Bilibid, tapos yung mga bata pinag aaral
namin dito sa MS pero kung dito sa Provincial, dito sa Lingap. Meron na pong grumaduate na rin or
nag aral na maganda na rin yung buhay nila.as of now, wala pa namn po kaming narinig kasi siguro
meron na kaming lib/light. Doon, may libangan na, may electricity nakakanood na.

C: may ISELCO na?

SBE: NAPOCOR

C: Saan ang daan?

SB E: Macu and Divilacan 8am - 12 pm

SP G: Suggestion lang kung gagawa kayo ng VAWC ordinance, sana embodied doon yung pag
cre’create niyo rin ng VAWC sa mga Barangays kasi minsan, marami talgang VAWC cases sa mga
Barangay na hindi talaga nakakarating sa mga bayan kasi mostly ng mga victims mga marginalized,
indigent so hindi na legible doon sa process, misan hinahayaan nalang so I suggest na isama niyo pos
a gagwin niyong ordinance yung VAWC desk sa mga Barangay at dagdag ko lang, kug aayusin niyo po
itong Executive Order niyo I suggest na isama niyo rin yung LMB President para may representation
yung bawat Barangays ng Divilacan and another doon sa updating niyo po ng GAD code, yung issuing
trafficking, violence and other related cases involving abuse against women pwede niyo rin pong
I’incorporate doon sa GAD code para kasama siya doon sa Budgeting na kung mag e’educate kayo
doon sa mga Barangay, kasama siya po doon sa program ninyo.

SB E: Parang na’recall ko noong mga DILG or what seminar is that happen in the previous years na
may nagpa seminar’an na magkaroon ng desks din sa mga Baangays so parang DILG ang
nagpa’seminar noon ma’am na magkakaroon sila sa mga Barangays ng mga desks pero hindi siguro
active lang, include nalang naming dito sa amin para maging active sila sa kanilang mga functions

C: Anything more?

SB E: Pumunta kami dito with all SB member we joined at the PCLand after that we went to
communicate with the Governor, wala pa naman pala siyan pasya. I’open ko lang na ang aming
purpose is yung daan, dahil yung aming daan doon private and government vang iho’honor nalang
daw nila, so ngayon kukuha nalang kami ng black and white para hindi na kami haharangin

C: Anong daan? Itong Ilagan – Divilacan?

SBE: Yes.

C: Kasi ang alam ko sarado pa iyan, yu ang alam kong latest

SBE: Ang sabi naman ni Gov. tsak yung isang SB na naki communicate kahapon na okay lang na
kukuha kami ng Black and white na government employee na parang ina’allow yung iba tapos kami
mismo na taga doon

C: May mga private ba na dumadaan doon?

SBE: Yes sir, mga private nagtitinda.

SP A: Andyan po si Governor sa Balay, pwede po naming kayong samahan.

SB E: Meron naman kaming waiver

C: Oo, dahil hindi pa safe, diba?

SB E: Sumusunod lang naman kami sa batas, kung ano ang order nig Capitol, gusto lang naman
naming na kaming mga taga LGU’s na may vehicles ia’allow kami, kasi minsan may pasyente,
itatakbo nila gamit ang single motor sa gitna ang pasyente, kaysa naman sa plane na 6,000 ang
pamasahe kasi may mga private vehicle na ina’allow sa amin naman dapat fair lang na bakit kaming
taga doon, hindi ina’allow? Pero ngayon naman daw sabi ni Gov. okay na, kumuha lang kami ng black
and white.

C: Kasi yan is executive function hindi sa amin yan, kaya ang makaka’sagot pos a inyo niyan ay ang
Office of the Governor. Tama kayo, kaialangan talaga ng black and white tsaka kung merong
pinapayagan mas dapat I’prioritize yung mga taga LGU. Sa PLO daw kayo kumukuha ng permit? Sa
Govenor’s Office pwede kayong makipag’ coordinate si Governor ang makaka’solve po niyan.

SB E: Naiintindihan naman po naming si Gov. na pag may nangyari in our own risk.
C: kaya nire’require ng waiver usually yan, I’take – up niyo sa Office of the Governor.

C: Wala na? So the ring is now adjourned.