Thumbs Up For First Philippine Employer To Get DOD Patriot Award

GUAM - Former Guam National Guard Adjutant-General Benny Paulino was quoted in a recent story about the first employer in the Philippines to receive the Department of Defense's Patriot Award.

According to The Philippine Star, South East Asian Airlines Director Nikos Gitsis is 'the man of the hour' for the encouragement that he and his staff gave a U.S. Naval Reserve member now stationed in New York.

The Patriot Award is an honor bestowed on outstanding employers through a DOD agency called the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

Paulino, who now chairs the ESGR Guam-Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Committee, is quoted in the Star article as underscoring the significant role employers play in the defense of our nation and the security of the world:

"Today, supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the US National Guard and Reserve units," said US Army retired Maj. Gen. Benny Paulino, field chairman of the ESGR Guam-Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) Com-mittee.

Maj. Gen. Paulino once served as the adjutant-general of the Guam National Guard, effectively serving as a top tier personnel director helping to ensure combat readiness among Guard Members.

Nowadays, Paulino puts his military experience to use in the private sector as the president and CEO of American Veterans International, LLC. Also known as AVI, the firm specializes in staff augmentation and offers secondary services in Unexploded Ordinance handling, construction and environmental services. Written by Jeff Marchesseault, Guam News Factor Staff Writer

Women's conference against militarism held

The 7th meeting of the International Network of Women Against Militarism began today. Women from all around the region are on island to attend the weeklong event with the theme of "Resistance, Resilience, and Respect for Human Rights."

"We are very much concerned that women are still seen as a commodity," said Philippine delegate Gorazon Requizo. As the island prepares for the impending military buildup, participants attending this week's conference say we can expect to see more human trafficking. Requizo, a native of the PI, provided insight as she grew up near the Olongapo Province that once hosted one of the largest United States military installations.

"We are advising since there will be a military expansion now here in Guam, we must challenge the women, especially the women and people of Guam to have a very strong resistance movement to this implementation," she said.

Concerns have been raised about the relocation of thousands of Marines from Okinawa to Guam, as there were concerns in Okinawa about the Marines behavior and sexual misconduct. Victims Advocates Reaching Out executive director Vangie Cabacar said, "It's a big concern for us, our numbers are high from sexual assault cases already, the lack of federal funding is another problem."

VARO is just one of many organizations in Guam involved in the dialogue about how to mitigate the impact, but Speaker Judi Won Pat says a full pronged approach is needed. Asked if she was planning on taking any preemptive measures to protect them, she said, "Yes, absolutely." The speaker warned that talk of a red light district by GVB and individuals at the Chamber of Commerce are of concern to her.

"A possible red light district, moving them out of Tumon and at that time to Harmon, but I think this is a bigger problem. We need to look at the whole picture. We need to look at our community and what it is we need to do to protect women and young girls," she said. Won Pat says she plans to create a blue ribbon committee to counter exploitation and to help create policies to ensure the safety of women and children.

Said Won Pat, "This is going to be a policy for Guam, I know we can't legislate or mandate anything for the military, but when their men come into the community, they would have to abide by the local law." Dr. Vivian Damas, UOG professor and committee member at the conference said that while a law that defines human trafficking has been passed, there is still more to be done. "Regulation of massage parlor, reporting of violence versus women and children both on the base and off the base, if we don't do that and we don't work out the coordinated agreements, we are going to have a huge problem on this island."

One Bad Apple Spoils The Bunch

By John Dela Rosa - Guam News Factor

GUAM - In our ongoing effort to bring our readers the most timely and updated information and to expand the dialogue in which we as a community participate, Guam News Factor requested to be added to each local senator's media distribution list in order to receive media releases and advisories.

Less than two hours later, we received an email response personally from Senator Matt Rector stating:

"This office only includes what we consider legitimate media organizations in our media releases. If you want more information on our media policy or the activities of our office feel free to go to our website www.MattRector.com."

Senator Rector's email also was cc'd to every other senator as well as sentorial staff members.


With respect to Mr. Rector's reference to "legitimate media organizations," and given his public refusal to grant interviews to the Pacific Daily News -- one of Guam's most established and respected news organizations -- we can only assume that "legitimate", as defined by Rector, means any organization that promotes or at the very least does not oppose his public policy positions.

While it comes as no surprise to the Guam News Factor team that Senator Rector would refuse to provide us with information that he clearly intends to make public via press releases and advisories, it is still unacceptable.

As an elected official, Senator Rector has a responsibility to answer to his constituency for his actions, bills, statements and positions. He was elected islandwide to promote the interest of all, including those who did not vote for him, or do not support his policies or actions, as well as the media who challenge his position on the issues.

Just as his position as senator is constitutionally founded, created by Guam's Organic Act, so to is freedom of the press an established right founded in the Constitution. His blatant dismissal of anyone's inquiries and his censorship of the media flies in the face of his responsibilities as an elected public servant and shows a dangerous disregard for the office he holds and the democracy that allows him to hold that office.

Mr. Rector must clearly separate his interests as the president of the union from his responsibilities as an elected official. And if he is unwilling to do so, the leadership of the Legislature has an obligation to require it. His actions as a member of that body have the potential to reflect poorly on the integrity of the whole if the legislative leadership allow it to continue.

As for the Guam News Factor, we will continue to bring new perspectives to the issues that matter to our community, even if some try to censor that dialogue.
Senator Rector, shutting out some from the information that should be given to all only raises suspicions about what you have to hide. The people of Guam deserve the full story, and Guam News Factor is committed to helping bring that story to them.

Jac Perry contributed to this opinion/editorial.