Press Release
July 7, 2008

REVILLA FULFILLS PROMISE TO PAROLA KIDS

As a fulfillment of commitment, Senator Bong Revilla today distributed educational supplies and assistance to hundreds of schoolchildren enrolled at the Kaluskos Musmos Day Care Center in Parola Compound, Tondo, Manila .

At least 200 packs containing various school supplies were personally given by the senator to the preschool children at the said day care center.

"The assistance is not really enough to fully cover their studies this school year. But it would help them for a start," Revilla said.

It could be recalled that the Kaluskos Musmos Day Care Center is owned by businessman Jun Ducat who held hostage last year 26 children and their tutors inside a bus parked in front of the Manila City Hall . Revilla negotiated for the release of the hostages and surrender of Jun Ducat and cohorts. Ducat is a personal friend and kumpare of the lawmaker.

One of the demands of Ducat during the hostage-taking incident is the educational support for the children enrolled at Kaluskos Musmos Day Care Center. Revilla vowed to extend assistance to the school children.

"This is the fulfillment of what I promised to Jun. I will keep on helping the students of Kaluskos Musmos Day Care Center as long as I could, "Revilla explained.

Aside from the present enrollees, Revilla also gave scholarship assistance to the 26 former students of the Kaluskos Musmos Day Care Center. The 26 beneficiaries, who were the ones held hostage by Ducat, are already in elementary level.

To protect children from similar incidents, Revilla refiled a pet bill of former Senate President pro-tempore Juan Flavier that seeks to create the Office of Tanodbata, an independent body which shall be powerful and aggressive enough to initiate investigation and pursue the prosecution, on its own, of any incidences of child abuse, exploitation and discrimination.

Under Revilla's Senate Bill no. 811, the Office of the Tanodbata shall investigate, on complaint by any person or on its own, and initiate court action against any person, corporation or firm, for any and all commissions of child abuse. It shall have one special prosecutor and one investigator for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao .

The Office of the Tanodbata shall direct any government agency to render assistance and furnish information necessary for the welfare of Filipino children and shall ensure that legislation relating to the protection of children's right is observed.

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