Dahino hits Nacaya over initial rejection of her pet ordinance

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent

COUNCILOR Edna Dahino on Monday lashed out at Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya even as she expressed her dismay over the city council’s failure to approve her proposed ordinance that would stricly regulate the travel of children who are unaccompanied by their parents or legal guardians in the city.

Dahino vented as she hurled brickbats at councilors to decided to throw the proposed ordinance back to the committee level for further study.

Proposed Ordinance no. 2017-153 seeks strict regulations on the travel of children or minors alone or unaccompanied by their parents or guardians to and from Cagayan de Oro without proper documentation.

Dahino said she felt insulted by councilors, especially by Councilor Nacaya.

Nacaya said Dahino’s proposal has loopholes.

For instance, he said, the ordinance would require a court order every time a child or a minor travels without his or her parents or legal guardians.

“Nagkinahanglan sila affidavit of parental consent,” he said.

Nacaya said there are national laws already in place to protect children from human trafficking.

“My ordinance was studied and reviewed by a battery of lawyers from the City Legal Office and by experts from national agencies,” said Dahino, adding that her intention is to lower if not, get rid of cases of human trafficking involving children as victims.

Dahino said the proposal was also in line with her appointment by Mayor Oscar Moreno as chairperson of the City Inter-Agency Children Anti-Trafficking Council.

She said the anti-trafficking council is mandated to draft and push for the approval of laws for the protection of children.

“Everything has been polished, and it was drafted a long time ago. Its approval is considered long overdue. Tanan prosecutors gibuhos na ilang suggestions to draft this. Wala naman kini’y kulang. This will be my great contribution to the city,” Dahino said.