THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Justice should file child abuse charges against the 13 members of the Caloocan City police who brought along a minor when they illegally raided and robbed a house.
The DSWD should also take protective custody of the child, who was caught stealing valuables during the unlawful police search.
We cannot have our very own officers of the law exploiting children, just like Akyat Bahay gangs using kids to break into homes, or drug pushers taking advantage of minors as movers.
Republic Act 7610 penalizes the use of children under 18 years of age as police guides, couriers or spies, or their use in illegal activities such as robbery, as well as their exposure to any form of danger, including threats that they might get harmed during possible hostilities.
What the officers did in this case constitutes gross inexcusable ignorance of the law and barefaced negligence. Under the law, they are to face dismissal from service, prison terms, and perpetual disqualification from public office.
The 13 officers who barged into the home of a 51-year-old woman in Barrio Sta. Rita, Barangay 188, Tala on Sept. 7 without a search warrant are already facing a robbery charge.
They stole cash and watches worth P30,000 from the house. They also did not file a spot report after their search, which did not yield any drugs.
The erring officers committed violations when they allowed a civilian informer to carry a firearm and participate in the search, and when they wore clothes that made it difficult to ascertain whether they were hooligans or agents of the law.--Rep. Lito Atienza