Margot to CCPO chief: Don't call street children "eyesores"

CEBU, Philippines – City Councilor Margarita Osmeña has rebuked City Police Director Ramon Melvin Buenafe after the latter called the street children as "eyesores"in a report yesterday.

Osmeña, co-chairperson of the Cebu City Commission for the Welfare of Children (CCCWC), told Buenafe that the street children, albeit giving a headache to city officials for their presence in the streets, are still children and still deserve respect and care.

Buenafe immediately apologized to Osmeña and the City Council.

"I stand corrected Ma'am. I will look for much better word to describe these street children," he said.

Buenafe also apologized for the failure of the police to coordinate with non-government organizations that are active in protecting children's rights in implementing the "Operation Plan (Oplan) Amuma."

Buenafe was at the City Council yesterday to brief councilors about the police's efforts in rescuing street children. He said his men have rescued 80 street children from different areas in the city for the past two weeks.

The children were reportedly subjected to counseling during which they were informed why it is not good for them to stay in the streets. They were later turned over to officials of the barangays where they come from who, in turn, turned them back to their families.

Osmeña reminded Buenafe of the policy promulgated by the police and the Department of Social Welfare and Development that those tasked to retrieve children from the streets - and those children who may figure in crimes - should not be in uniform.

Yesterday, The Freeman observed there are still children begging for coins from motorists at the corner of General Maxilom Avenue and M.J. Cuenco Avenue, just a stone-throw from the regional office of DSWD. (FREEMAN)