Final Citizen Journalism Report
Jean Paula B. Roque, BAJ 2A
Posted at June 6, 2022
TABANG, GUIGUINTO, BULACAN, Philippines– Residents and Barangay Officials of Tabang, Guiguinto, Bulacan affirm the accessibility and effectiveness of the Barangay Justice System, a community mediation programme, in resolving conflicts and maintaining peace and order.
Barangay Councilor, Chairman of Finance, Jose Wilbert Villones claims that the office of Barangay Tabang is always open to address the concerns of the citizens.
The residents may file a complaint through walk-ins to the Barangay Secretary and Barangay Investigator from 8 AM to 5 PM, while the Barangay Police Officers will be available to receive their grievances during non-office hours.
Barangay Tabang New Barangay Hall Inauguration last February 2022. (Photo courtesy of Sangguniang Kabataan ng Tabang Facebook page)
According to Councilor Villones, the most common complaints brought to the Barangay Court are due to non-payment of debts, gossip, family disputes, defamation, misunderstanding, and conflicts between neighbors and/or community members.
After a file of the complaint is registered in the office, the barangay will then issue a letter of invitation to the respondent to face the issues involving them by securing their attendance in solving the dispute.
IN MEDIATING CONFLICTS
Barangay Chairman Apollo Robles stated that each conflict undergoes a series of hearings in the Barangay Office with the sole purpose of reaching conformity among aggrieved parties which is commonly arranged on a twice-a-week schedule.
“Tuesday at Friday ang aming paghaharap. Kung ang mga akusado ay sa gabi, Sabado o Linggo puwede, at puwede rin naman kami, binibigyan namin [sila] ng oras para makapagharap,” Kap. Apollo added.
Newly-appointed Barangay Secretary Christine Torres provided via online interview that there are six confrontational hearings per complaint given by the barangay in mediating conflicts.
“Magkakaroon ng tatlong paghaharap na pamumunuan ni Kapitan kasama ang Barangay Investigator at Barangay Secretary para sa pagtatala. Kung hindi magkakaroon ng kasunduan matapos ang paghaharap sa pamumuno ng Kapitan, magkakaroon sila ng tatlong paghaharap na pamumunuan [naman] ng mga Lupong Tagapamayapa,” Sec. Torres said.
According to the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) program description, the central feature of the system is the Lupong Tagapamayapa, a community-based conflict resolution effort that is highly supportive of the notions of social ordering and human development.
Secretary Torres further stated that the statements “ipapa-barangay kita” and “magkita na lang tayo sa barangay” became prominent in the society due to the problems of opposing parties, who cannot resolve their own conflicts, which led them to approach the office of the barangay to orderly and legally solve their disputes based on the agreements to be proposed during the hearings.
“Anomang usapin, nagbibigay ng payo ang mga namumuno ng paghaharap na lahat ng bagay ay maaayos sa mahinahong pag-uusap at [sila ay pinapaalalahanan na] huwag magpadala sa bugso ng damdamin upang maiwasan ang sakitan o hindi magandang salitaan,” Sec. Torres added in regards to the solution given by the Barangay Court.
IN SECURING A FAIR AND JUSTIFIED SYSTEM
The inclusion of the Barangay Justice System in the small units of society aims to deliver an effective grievance system in peacefully resolving conflicts.
“Palaging bukas ang tanggapan ng barangay sa anomang problema at hinaing na kinahaharap ng mga mamamayan,” Sec. Torres declared.
The interviewed officials claim that they are consistently raising awareness to the residents of Barangay Tabang that the people can rely on them and their services in helping them solve their concerns.
Meeting in the New Barangay Hall, attended by the Barangay Chairman, Councilors, Deputy Chief, and the Barangay Police Officers. (Photo courtesy of Ms. Christine Torres)
“Magalang na tinatanggap ng tanggapan ng barangay ang sinomang magpapatala ng mga reklamo o kasunduan na idinudulog ng [mga residente ng] Tabang, maliit man o malaki,” said Sec. Torres.
The legal literacy and mediation skills of Barangay Chairman Robles and members of the Lupon claim to be effective in delivering justice to the residents of the barangay.
“Sa bawat paghaharap, binibigyan ng pagkakataon ang magkabilang panig upang magsalaysay. Matapos marinig ang kanilang salaysay, magbibigay ng kondisyon ang may sumbong kung anong nais niyang mangyari upang matapos ang problema. Sasang-ayunan naman ito ng namumuno kung ito’y katanggap-tanggap at mapagbibigyan batay sa kakayahan ng ipinasumbong. Kung sakaling ang kondisyon [ng may sumbong] ay lagpas sa kakayahan ng ipinasumbong, makikiusap ang namumuno kung maaari’y magtagpo sila sa gitna,” Sec. Torres explained when asked if the current Barangay Justice System is fair in providing decisions and solutions to address the residents’ problems.
“Para sa akin, patas ang sistema dahil bago naman nila pirmahan ang kasunduan, tinatanong naman sila kung sumasang-ayon sila. Ang barangay ay namamagitan lamang kaya kung ano ang mapagkasunduan ng dalawang panig na magiging katanggap-tanggap sa kanila, iyon ang masusunod,” Councilor Villones added.
IN HAVING EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY LEADERS
According to DILG’s Katarungang Pambarangay Handbook, “The barangays, being the basic political unit in the country, is in the most strategic position to facilitate resolution or mediation of community and family disputes, alongside its mandate to deliver basic services.”
A Barangay Chairman is expected to effectively and efficiently dispense their duties to the community, especially in addressing the concerns of the citizens.
Barangay Tabang's Chairman Apollo M. Robles (Photo courtesy of Mr. Willie Roque)
“Bukod sa marami na silang karanasan, sapat din ang kanilang kaalaman tungkol sa batas,” said Sec. Torres when asked about the skills and competence of the Barangay Chairman in resolving conflicts.
IN MAINTAING PEACE AND ORDER
The Barangay Justice System contributes to the preservation of peace and order in the locality by way of preventing the escalation of conflicts.
“Mahalaga ang Barangay Justice System para sa peace and order [ng] barangay,” said Councilor Villones.
According to DILG, “In accordance with the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act 7160), the Katarungang Pambarangay (KP) or the Barangay Justice System is an extra-governmental mechanism aims at perpetuating the time-honored tradition of amicably settling interpersonal disputes in a community without recourse to the formal legal system or confrontational social behavior.”
Rose Morong, a Mother Leader of Barangay Tabang, said via online interview, “Mahalaga na magkaroon ng ganitong sistema sa barangay para [nan]dito pa lamang sa barangay [ay] naaayos na ang problema [at] hindi na kailangang umakyat pa sa kataas-taasan.”
Barangay Evaluation headed by Kap. Apollo Robles (Photo courtesy of Mrs. Ma. Elena Casipi)
“Open ang barangay. May [mga] tao para makinig at magpayo sa mga tao,” Morong said after being asked if the barangay officials are approachable in terms of their provision of assistance and addressing the concerns being raised by the residents.
BPOC monthly meeting. (Photo courtesy of Mr. Eugene Rodriguez)
Secretary Torres declared that the members of Barangay Tabang are ensuring the safety of the citizens citing that, “Kung about po sa paghaharap, wala po kaming pictures. Kung sino lamang po ang nagrereklamo at inirereklamo, sila lamang po ang pwedeng pumasok sa loob ng hearing.”
Privacy of the people involved in an issue is prioritized during deliberations to protect their safety and community standing within the barangay.
Documents and other information regarding the cases filed in the office are treated with utmost care. Disclosure of any information is discouraged.
“Makakaasa naman ang nagrereklamo at inirereklamo sa kanilang kaligtasan matapos silang pagkasunduin sa barangay,” Councilor Villones added.
“Sa pamamagitan ng Barangay Justice System, ang kapayapaan, kaayusan at kalinisan ay napag-uukulan nang lubusan kung kaya’t mayroon tayong tahimik at maayos na pamayanan. Ang Barangay Justice [System] ng Tabang ay nagbibigay suhestisyon, pagpapayo, at panukala para sa ikabubuti ng mamamayan,” Sec. Torres added.
“Lubos ang tiwala ko sa Barangay Justice System kaya kung dumating sa akin [ang anomang problema] na kailangan ko[ng] dumulog sa barangay, gagawin ko,” declared Councilor Villones at the end of the interview.
The old Barangay Hall of Tabang. (Screenshot Street View from Google Maps)
Street towards the new Barangay Hall of Tabang. (Screenshot Street View from Google Maps)
Residents of Barangay Tabang are duly encouraged to file a report or a complaint through walk-ins in the new Barangay Hall at Ylang-Ylang Homes or they may call via landline at 044-482-0760 if ever they need assistance regarding a particular concern.
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