Cops can sue parents who neglect their kids

CEBU, Philippines - The police in Mandaue City, if they have sufficient evidence, can take parents to court for neglecting their children.

Investigative and Detective Management Bureau deputy chief P/Insp. Ramil Morpos yesterday said Fiscal Felixberto Geromo of the Mandaue City Fiscal Office told him the police can file charges provided there is sufficient evidence the parents are negligent.

Morpos said parents can be charged with violation of R.A 7610 or the child abuse law.

Morpos and Centro police station chief P C/Insp. Elmer Fernandez said most crimes in Mandaue City are now being committed by minors.

The police officials said these minors have been a perennial problem to the police as they would commit crimes time and again as they are protected by the juvenile law and could not be sent to jail.

“Gani sagad sa mga ginikanan aning mga bataa mao pay mu-tolerate or mu–encourage sa ilang mga anak nga mangawat o manulis aron usab ikasustenir sa ilang (parents) mga bisyo,” Morpos said.

Aside from stealing and snatching, these children are also encouraged by parents to beg and make begging their means of livelihood.

Fernandez said it’s always a problem when children commit crimes because after they are released, they go back to the streets to commit crimes again.

Fernandez said he only has a few men to go after the erring minors who are mostly  involved in sniffing of volatile substances and sealants and all they can do is apprehend them and turn them over to DSWD since they cannot be imprisoned.

And in a bid to deter such, a city ordinance, authored by Councilor Jimmy Lumapas, goes after establishments that sell volatile substances and sealants, impose fines of P2,000, P3,000, and P5,000 for the first, second, and third offense.

Fernandez said minors that patronize volatile substances are the ones who are mostly involved in snatchings.

In a day, the police arrest six minors for snatching.

Fernandez said he hopes an NGO can help put up a facility for minors who have been totally neglected by parents.

Morpos said the police will coordinate with the CSWS to enforce the law.  – THE FREEMAN