Cop chief explains why juvenile lawbreakers are in jail, not in rehab

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Children-in-conflict-with-the-law, or juvenile lawbreakers, have remained in the Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) lock-up cells instead of being brought to a rehabilitation center, and this prompted the Regional Trial Court to question the police chief, Senior Superintendent Rolando Bade, on the matter.

Bade, in his appearance before RTC Judge Cicero Lampasa, explained the reason why minors—facing criminal cases in court—were not transported to the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) in Tanauan town of Leyte, despite a court order, and kept instead in the cell together with adult detainees.

Bade said the transfer was only delayed due to documentary requirements, set by the RRCY manual of operations, such as social case study report, medical records, school records, and admission conference that the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) had to prepare.

In his written explanation, Bade said the TCPO has neither malice nor any intent to evade court order to transfer the accused juveniles. He said the police have been closely coordinating with CSWDO for fasttracking the processing of documents needed for the minor’s commitment to RRCY in Tanauan, about 35 kilometers from the city..

For now, all juvenile lawbreakers are mixed in the lock up cell of female inmates, but Lampasa, concerned over the welfare of the minors, told TCPO to immediately transfer them to the rehabilitation center, because their prolonged stay in the detention cell could be detrimental to the reformation of these juveniles.

CSWDO Chona Bahin, for her part, said she could not meet the demands of her office because she has been the only one working on the documentary requirements, as there are other office tasks she had to do,

At an average there are five minors who are facing charges in court. Most of them are locked up at the TCPO cells and have to be transferred to the RRCY if they qualify, she said.

Bade said the TCPO has only two lock-up cells, one for male adult inmates and another for female adults. The city government, however, has the Social Development Center for Children, a facility located at Barangay Tagpuro of Tacloban, said Bade, who suggested this facility instead of the farther one in Tanauan.

Public Prosecutor Sean Suyom agreed to Bade’s suggestion for the interest of the juveniles before the would be moved to the RRCY. This matter is submitted yet, however, to the court for resolution. Bahin added that the facility in Tagpuro is intended for children at risk.

Another serious concern raised was the safety during transportation of the juveniles to the court whenever there are court hearings they have to attend. But Bade said the Tagpuro facility is the only remedy available to address the issue on juveniles, staying in lock-up cells with adult inmates. (FREEMAN)