By: Divine Grace T. Deodoco
| The panel in the seminar for students
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Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion (CPC) College of Law faculty and students visited CAPSU Mambusao to hold a legal advocacy seminar and legal aid activity, March 13.
The activity is part of the Project CPC LAW-PAD or Creating Protection for Children, Liberalizing Access for Women, the Poor, and the Disadvantaged which primarily aims "to provide information advocacy campaign through legal advocacy seminar, and provide access to justice through free legal services and counseling."
Atty. Mark D. Borres, CPC legal clinic director, led the team from CPC while the Gender and Development (GAD) Office of CAPSU Mambusao chaired by Prof. Rosemarie L. Luces with the assistance of the Supreme Student Council (SSC) and Future Leaders of the Philippines (FLP) spearheaded the preparations in the Campus.
The program formally commenced with welcome remarks from Dr. Adelfo Z. Virtudazo, satellite college director. He provided an overview of what to expect and what the entire event was all about. He also expressed his gratitude to CPC for having chosen the campus to be part of their activity.
“I am very grateful to the people from CPC, and to the legal officers of CAPSU. They came here … to inform us… about certain laws that we need to be informed of, and to provide us legal advice,” Dr. Virtudazo said.
Atty. Borres gave the rationale of the activity, particularly the Project CPC LAW-PAD of the CPC College of Law.
“Project CPC LAW-PAD stands for Creating Protection for Children, Liberalizing Access for Women and the Disadvantaged. CPC College of Law believes in the saying by Justice Powell that ‘equal justice is perhaps the most ideal of society.’ You must be afforded with your right to access to justice that is one of the reasons why we are bringing to you our CPC LAW-PAD right here in this institution,” he said.
He also added that laws are important, but they can only be effective if people know about particular laws.
After the opening program, personnel and students split for their respective seminars.
Students remained in the gym for a seminar on Safe Spaces Act (Bawal ang Bastos Law), Anti-Violence against Women and Children Law (Anti-VAWC Law), and Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Law.
Meanwhile, faculty members and non-academic personnel proceeded to the Accreditation Room for their seminar on Legal and Ethical Issues in the Workplace taken up by Atty. Toche Vic B. Doce, CAPSU legal officer.
Roxanne Beluso, a law student, discussed the first topic which was about the law that protects individuals from sexual harassment in public spaces.
| Atty. Doce enlightens the personnel with legal and ethical issues in the workplace.
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“Bawal ang Bastos Law, or Republic Act No. 11313, is a law that aims to protect individuals from gender-based harassment and other forms of sexual harassment in public spaces, workplaces, and online platforms. It prohibits acts such as catcalling, unwanted sexual advances, and sexist slurs,” Beluso enlightened the students of what the Law is all about.
Another law student, Balt Chavez, delved into the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Law, or Republic Act No. 9995.
“This Law protects individuals from the unauthorized capturing, recording, or sharing of intimate images or videos without their consent. It prohibits the act of taking photos or videos of a person's private areas without permission, as well as the distribution, publication, or sale of such materials,” Chavez shared.
“Ang mga specific gid ya nga sa sini nga law amo ang pagkuha sang litrato, ang pagkuha video sang mga parte sang lawas or private part or pagpicture sang mga nagsexy time nga magjowa or mag-asawahay nga wala sila kabalo,” he explained.
Finally, Julius Daliva tackled the Anti-VAWC Law.
“The Anti-VAWC Law is short for the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act, also known as Republic Act No. 9262. This law aims to protect women and children from various forms of violence, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse,” Daliva informed the participants what the law is.
He gave examples of violence prohibited by this law, and some important things to note.
“May ara kita nga physical and with force. For example, ginluok, ginsipa, ginsumbag, ginbunggo anything nga may physical force. Kung sa mga under-de-saya nga mga lalaki, indi kita pwede sa sini nga layi because R.A. 9262 provides specifically nga ang rights provided sa sini nga layi are for women and children. Pero indi buot silingon nga wala na kita nga mga lalaki sing karapatan. Kung ikaw ginabalda, pwede man ikaw makafile kaso sa imo nga partner under sa Revised Penal Code. May ara kita nga separate nga layi,” he said.
| Clients receive legal assistance at the library.
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While seminars were going on, legal counseling and subscription/notarization of documents took place at the school’s library.