Comendador says escape of minor "anticipated"

CEBU, Philippines - City Police Director Patrocinio Comendador has ordered a probe into the escape of a 17-year-old minor from the “holding center” at the Camp Sotero Cabahug dawn yesterday, but admitted that the escape was an incident just waiting to happen.

Comendador has ordered the Investigation and Detective Management Branch of the city police and the Guadalupe Police Station to investigate the guard on duty, as well as the supervising officer from the Women and Children’s Protection Desk.

He pointed out that because minor offenders cannot be detained by the police, it should be DSWD’s responsibility to place them in holding centers. However, DSWD does not have enough holding space.

“They should be referred to social workers. However, wa man sila’y enough holding centers to house them so we accommodate them,” Comendador said.

“In fact, amo na gi-anticipate na ma-eskapohan mi kay layo ang guard,” Comendador added, referring to personnel of the Security Service Group manning the guardhouse near the entrance of Camp Sotero Cabahug.

The minor, a resident of barangay Buhisan, was arrested last Friday night for theft charges after he entered a house in barangay Kalunasan and tried to steal some valuables. He was temporarily placed at the CCPO holding center or referred to “Children’s Haven” pending evaluation by DSWD of his condition during the commission of the crime.

Yesterday, PO1 Janel Yongco of the Guadalupe Police Station called up CCPO to have the child transferred to DSWD for evaluation, but the minor was no longer at the holding center.

Police believed that the suspect escaped through the back portion of the center by cutting the grills with a saw.

Comendador said the center will be renovated, but emphasized that the makeover is intended to make the center look far from being a jail.

“We will remove the concept that this is really a jail…like changing the grills so that it will not connote as a jail. Alisdan nato ug bintana,” he said.

Comendador said that under the “revised system,” minor offenders ages 15 to 17, whether or not they acted with discernment in committing an alleged crime, should be placed under the jurisdiction of the police station assigned to the area where the alleged crime happened. He said coordination with DSWD should be strengthened further.

Efforts are underway to place the minor back under police custody. — Niña G. Sumacot/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)