17 bolt juvenile detention center

CEBU, Philippines —  At least 17 minors housed at the juvenile detention center in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City, escaped on Wednesday, January 10.

The minors who allegedly fled Operation Second Chance in Kalunasan were involved in illegal drugs and murder cases.

Authorities from Guadalupe Police Station said they are currently on the hunt for these minor persons deprived of liberty. However, they are yet to divulge any developing information regarding their ongoing investigation of the incident.

They added that they are now coordinating with the minors’ parents to expedite their search.

According to the initial information released, the minors were believed to have escaped while their breakfast was being prepared.

For its part, the Cebu City Police Office has launched a team to locate the minors and constantly coordinate with their parents or guardians.

It added that they would investigate where the facility may have lacked, such as that it could have a shortage of manpower to look after the over 100 detainees inside it.

CCPO would also look into the possible reasons why the juveniles were lured to escape.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he will meet with the police to find out the problem at the center.  Rama said he will wait for the official report from CCPO before he will make a decision on what actions to take against the warden and the personnel of the center.

The mayor said he had already replaced the guards of the center after 20 minors also escaped in April last year.

On April 11 last year, around 20 minors escaped the said detention center. The group had allegedly planned their escape for a long time.

With firewood, the 20 surprised the lone security guard on duty during that time and rushed to get out.

In another incident, another minor escaped the center last June 4, but he was later nabbed during a buy-bust operation on September 21.

In 2019, Children's Legal Bureau, a non-profit organization, demanded a thorough and independent investigation after 11 minors escaped from Operation Second Chance.

They claimed that among the reasons they looked into for the escape was the alleged maltreatment the minors received from their house parents inside the facility.

This was later debunked by former Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella following a surprise visit he conducted to the detention center to check if the allegations were true. — with Caecent Noot Magsumbol, JMD (FREEMAN)