GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato is planning to establish a temporary resettlement facility that will provide refuge to witnesses of major crimes.
South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said Friday studies are underway for the development of the facility, which was earlier endorsed by the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC).
She said the facility will mainly cater to witnesses in drug-related cases and other heinous crimes.
“It will provide refuge to witnesses, and their families if necessary, before they enter the witness protection program,” she said.
The governor said they have been facing difficulty in handling the security and safety of some witnesses due to the absence of such facility.
In some cases, she said there were witnesses wherein their entire families needed to be relocated due to security concerns.
“We should not wait for the national government for this because a lot of our witnesses were already disappointed with their situation,” she said.
As recommended by the PPOC, which Fuentes chairs, the local government will provide initial funds by next year for the project.
Aside from this, Fuentes said the council also endorsed the allotment of additional funds for the planned establishment of a halfway home for former and returning New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the area.
The local government had signified to avail of the P5 million grant offered by the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the development of the facility.
Ma. Ana Uy, acting head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said the proposed project will be established in a 1,000-square meter property in Barangay Morales, Koronadal City.
A halfway home or house refers to the temporary residence that serves as the processing center for former rebels.
The facility could also be used to cater to other individuals in crisis situations such as victims of violence against women and children, juvenile delinquents, former convicts and victims of disasters.(PNA)
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