Friday, November 30, 2007 Heads of minors’ facility to face contempt charges
THE Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) could be cited for contempt of court if it fails to transfer the “abused” minors of the Cebu City Operation Second Chance (CCOSC) to another facility while an investigation is going.
Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo said he already secured the order since Monday this week.
The reason for the delay is that they needed to sign some documents and go through some procedures, Carillo said yesterday.
Seven boys bolted from CCOSC Monday last week. Two were immediately recaptured.
Two days later, two more boys were fetched from Carcar City and returned to the facility in Barangay Kalunasan.
They were reportedly abused inside the facility, prompting them to escape.
Carillo said the BJMP had until yesterday to comply with the order. If BJMP wouldn’t comply, he will file administrative charges and cite them for contempt of court, Carillo said.
Judge Olegario Sarmiento, the presiding judge of the Family Court, earlier ordered the minors to be transferred to another place where they will undergo a psychological examination.
The results of the tests will be included as evidence in the filing of a child abuse case against the three accused jail guards.
Carillo said they will submit the findings of the investigation to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
“There are three social workers assigned in Operation Second Chance. The seven children belong to one sala together and they also complained to the social worker assigned to them (about the abuses). It is up to the mayor to decide according to our findings,” Carillo said. (NRC)
