CATBALOGAN, Samar
– A group has showed interest for the release of the female child
warrior, identified by her comrades as “Ka Liza,” from the custody of
the social welfare department, Provincial Social Welfare and
Development Officer (PSWDO) Luz D. Tacal disclosed in an interview
Monday.
According to Ms. Tacal,
a certain Atty. Prieto came to her office last October 18 asking for
data about the child as they are preparing to file a petition for a
Writ of Habeas Corpus before the court.
Atty. Prieto insisted
that “Ka Liza” should be released by the DSWD and should be
re-integrated to the community under the custody of her parents since
she is still a child, Tacal informed.
She, however, told the
lawyer that the five rescued minors who were allegedly members of the
communist New People’s Army (NPA) have already been turned over to the
DSWD Regional Office since the PSWDO here has no facility to house
them.
The PSWDO was puzzled
though why the lawyer, who failed to mention what organization he
belong, showed so much interest on “Ka Liza” and not with the four
others.
Aside from Atty.
Prieto, Ms. Tacal said she received information from the DSWD Regional
Office that the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is also working for
the release of the child.
“I wondered why they
showed particular interest on her while neglecting the other minors
that are now placed under the custody of DSWD,” Ms. Tacal asked.
To recall, “Ka Liza”,
who claimed to be the Medical Officer of the CPP-NPA’s Central Front
Committee 1 operating in the areas of Catbalogan, San Jorge, San Jose
de Buan, Matuguinao and the neighboring towns was rescued by the
military in Sitio Cankahayag, Brgy. Tuturingon, an interior barangay
of Catbalogan town last October 4 along with two other females.
