City Hall asked to act on child-beggars

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Hall officials have been requested by a resident of Barangay Sto. Niño to take action against a group of youngsters who are extorting money from passengers of public utility jeepneys (PUJ) plying along V. Gullas Street.

Petronio V. Elesterio sent a letter to City Councilor Sisinio Andales hoping that the illegal activities of these youngsters can be stopped immediately. Andales already brought the matter up before the City Council and the issue has been referred to the police.

Elesterio said the group is composed of children aged six to 10 years old who climb on PUJs  passing by V. Gullas Street and demand money from the passengers.

According to Elesterio, he decided to call the attention of the City Hall officials because he believes that the barangay officials cannot effectively address the problem because of their limited capability and resources.

“Indubitably, the City Government is in the best position to address this concern as it has all the resources and logistics to solve this kind of problem,” Elesterio said.

Elesterio is afraid that if these children are allowed to continue begging inside passenger jeepneys, something might happen to them.

He narrated an incident wherein the driver of the PUJ got mad when the children did not disembark from the vehicle as ordered. The driver stopped the vehicle and disembarked, bringing a night stick with him.

“While he successfully brought down the kids, the children teased and taunted the driver who was so mad that he even gestured to strike the child near him with the stick he was holding,” Elesterio said.

He called it a near fatal confrontation because there were two other older children who just stood by beside the road waiting for the driver to make his next move.

“These boys are armed with bladed weapon. Had he started clubbing the children with his stick the two older children would surely send the driver to thy kingdom come,” Elesterio said.

— (FREEMAN)