Council seeks probe on minor offenders detained at BBRC

Just like Mayor Tomas Osmeña, the city council is calling for a probe on the presence of minor offenders inside the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center.

The council believes it should be looked into why the minors are detained at the city jail when they should have been sent to the Operation Second Chance in barangay Kalunasan.

Yesterday, the council approved a resolution by councilor Gerardo Carillo for the Cebu City Commission for the Welfare and Protection of Children to determine why, during their arrest, the minor offenders were allegedly not made to meet a social worker and a child relations officer of the PNP.

The council requested the Regional Trial Court to issue an order to transfer to Operation Second Chance the remaining minor offenders that are confirmed to be inside the city jail. The resolution further requests RTC executive judge Simeon Dumdum to order the transfer of the cases of the minor offenders to the family and children's court, the only branch of the RTC allowed to hear cases involving minor offenders. In a privilege speech, Carillo said it is very disturbing that 13 minors were detained at the BBRC during their arrest. Three of which were already transferred to Operation Second Chance the other day upon orders of RTC judge Raphael Yrastorza.

These minor offenders, ages 15 to 17, are facing cases involving frustrated homicide, robbery, illegal drugs, slight physical injuries, and concealment of dangerous weapons. These were discovered when the BBRC warden reviewed the records of the detainees.

And like Osmeña, Carillo said a possible reason why this happened is when the arresting police tells an arrested minor to admit he or she is 18 years old to avoid the "hectic" procedure during an arrest. The procedure entails calling on the offender's parents and a social worker to see the minor suspect before a proper investigation is started.

Other possible reasons are when a minor offender personally chooses to stay in BBRC where an arrested relative is detained or when the judge simply mistakenly ordered the suspect to be detained at BBRC.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera suggested that the city government adopt the "diversion program" that would allow a minor offender to be housed in an institution like the Bahay Pasilungan in barangay Mambaling instead of a jail facility.

Osmeña has already asked the National Bureau of Investigation to determine the policemen who placed 17 minor offenders at BBRC. When determined, Osmeña said he will "put the screws" on the policemen. "I pity the policemen who will be caught because I will really put the screws on them," Osmeña said. The mayor said the city does not need policemen who cannot do their jobs properly. - Joeberth M. Ocao