Wanted: Rehab facility for rugby boys

CEBU, Philippines —  Clearing the streets of rugby boys is not a problem for Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Colonel Gemma Cruz Vinluan.

The problem, she said, is where to put the rescued minors.

For the director, Cebu City should have its own rehabilitation facility for these young homeless children, who are often embroiled in petty crimes on the streets such as sniffing rugby.

Rugby is a solvent brand often inhaled by street children purportedly to moderate their hunger. But experts have warned that inhaling it may cause nausea, blurred vision, memory lapse and loss of motor coordination.

While these effects may be a minor discomfort to the user after inhalation, permanent damage from inhalants is irreversible. There is also the possibility that the act may damage organs such as the liver, kidneys, brain and heart and thus lead to death.

In response to President Duterte’s challenge to local government units to rid the streets of eyesores, Mayor Edgardo Labella has ordered the police of taking the rugby boys from the streets.

The police have been receptive to the challenge. Under the so-called Street Children Rugby Operations, police have rounded up 17 minors so far in Barangay Ermita the other day, who were then turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Services.

But for Vinluan, rescuing them is not enough.

“Sa ngayon kasi, ako, personally, ang gusto ko sana magkaroon tayo ng rehabilitation center para sa mga batang rugby (What I really want to see is a rehabilitation facility for these kids),” Vinluan said.

She also clarified that rugby boys should not be housed in the same facility as children in conflict with the law (CICL) or those who are facing charges for allegedly committing crimes.

“Hindi mo naman kasi pwedeng isama itong mga bata na ito sa mga CICL eh, magkaiba yun iba ang treatment sa mga batang involved sa rugby. Iba ang treatment ng mga batang CICL (They should be treated differently from CICLs),” she said, adding that there is a need to segregate them to avoid possible “riots.”

The CCPO chief did not, however, specify whether she would ask the city government in particular to build the rehab facility for rugby boys. — David E. Mesias, CNU Intern/JMD (FREEMAN)