BATANG MAYNILA By MAYOR ISKO MORENO Mayor Isko Moreno Over the weekend, specifically last March 8, the nation joined the entire world in the  celebration of International Women's Day, even as we continue celebrating Women's Month. The new city administration in Manila led by yours truly fully support women empowerment and gender equality, as we pay tribute to women for their significant and countless contributions and roles in the country's overall progress and development. Gone are the days when women were relegated to the background as they were confined to the old, traditional role as mere support for male dominance both at home and in various fields of endeavor. Let us spend the month honoring women to whom we all owe our very existence. We are all here because of our mothers so it is but just fitting to honor them, first and foremost. We could start by hugging, kissing, or texting our mothers and let them know and feel how much we love them. Let us thank them for all their sacrifices and love to raise and mold us to become the persons that we are today. I also call on everyone to please respect all women in the workplace.  Not only do they deserve utmost respect as human beings but more so because they are women, precisely. Rest assured that in the City of Manila, the importance of women are never taken lightly. Women are always on equal footing with men and is never treated less, even as we acknowledge that at times, women even do better than men when it comes to work and multi-tasking. At the Manila City Hall alone, a great number of heads of departments, bureaus, and offices are women, not to mention the personnel or rank-and-file who are women. They have proven themselves as highly efficient and deserving of equal opportunities as men. We also have a very active Gender And Development (GAD) office which aids the local government in drafting programs that would create awareness on gender sensitivities and ensure that all rights are enjoyed equally by all genders at all times.

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I am simply at a loss for words to describe how I felt at the sight of a hapless female elementary student who recently sought my help to bring her rapist before the bars of justice. Her conviction and strength of character at a very young age impressed me a lot. Though still shaken by hear ordeal, the girl showed firmness in going after the suspect, saying he wants to see him in jail and even vowed to pursue the case  rape filed against him by the arresting cops. She had expressed fear though, since the suspect’s gangmates have threatened her to dropping the charges so that their friend can be released. The suspect, a 23-year-old whom she and her mother had treated as family, is said to be into illegal drug use, which explains why he committed the crime. He was identified a stay-in veterinary assistant at a pet salon on Pedro Gil Street in Paco, Manila. I have tasked Special Mayor's Reaction Team (SMART) chief Maj. Jhun Ibay and Manila Police District-Sta. Ana Police Station 6 commander Police Lt. Col. Evangeline Martos, under whose jurisdiction the unfortunate incident happened,  to go after the suspect’s gangmates and tell them to stay away from the victim. I was told they are a group of drug addicts. Appropriate actions will be taken against them should they continue harassing the victim who is just an elementary student. “Yung mga kasama ng nang-rape, magbabarkada kayo, kilala na namin kayo. Me mabalitaan lang ako na tinatakot ninyo ang biktima, alam namin ang address ninyo pati Facebook ninyo, pati ang tawag sa gang ninyo. Parap-rap na kayo. Me picture din kami ninyo. Wala kayong kinalaman sa kasong ito, hindi kayo kasali. Pero pag kayo nakibahagi at tinakot ninyo ang biktima, papanagutin namin kayo. Manahimik kayo. I have reiterated this warning to the suspect’s gangmates several times and I am dead serious about this. I also enjoin the public to inform my office or the police should they have any information about these gang members’ illicit activities or should they plan or do anything that would cause any inconvenience on the victim.  This way, we can protect the hapless victim.

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Walang magmamalasakit sa Maynila kundi tayo ding mga Batang Maynila. Manila, God first!

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For updates on latest developments in the city of Manila, please visit my Facebook account--- ‘Isko Moreno Domagoso.’