Wednesday, October 15, 2008
City to gather Carbon's kids
YOUNG beggars and street children in the Carbon Public Market area will be rounded up today in an effort to make the market safer to consumers.
Minors, said Cebu City Market Administrator Raquel Arce, are most often the suspects in petty crimes committed in Carbon, prompting the authorities to finally address the situation.
“Kaning mga bata usa ni sa problema nato sa Carbon. Naa diha’y customer mobayad, birahon lang og kalit sa mga bata ang bayad; kon madakpan labayon ang biktima sa kinawat (These children are causing us problems in Carbon. Some of them grab money from customers),” she said.
When caught, some of these children threaten to report the authorities to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), she said.
She was referring to how juvenile offenders have become more brazen, often taunting persons in authority like barangay tanods, because they are protected under Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.
Off the hook
The law states that those 15 years old and younger are exempted from criminal liability. An older minor can also be exempted from criminal liability unless he or she “acted with discernment.”
Once a child is taken into custody and is determined to be 15 years old and younger, authorities shall immediately release him to his parents, guardian, or nearest relative. They also need to notify the local social welfare officer, who will determine the appropriate programs for the child in consultation with the guardians.
Today’s roundup is the first in the Carbon area, Arce said.
It will be conducted along with concerned agencies like the DSWD, the Community Scouts Rehabilitation Youth and Guidance Center, Parian Drop-in Center, City Anti-Mendicancy Board, Barangay Ermita, and Carbon Police Station.
“Daghan kaayong mga bata, labi nang (There are so many of them, especially the) rugby boys,” she said. Her team, she added, underwent an orientation by the DSWD in preparation for today’s operation.
While she did not fault the parents, whose need to earn money kept them from closely monitoring their children, she said the children have to be herded and brought to the Community Scouts, where they are given food.
She said their roundup operations will be done daily until no street children remain in the market.
“Pero dili ni nagpasabot nga di na pwede magdala’g bata sa merkado. Kadto rang mga batang libod-suroy ang target nato (This doesn’t mean people can no longer bring children to the market. We just want to focus on the street children),” Arce said.
She will ask the DSWD and Community Scouts to send a social worker each day to her office. (RHM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (October 15, 2008 issue)
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