THREE male teenagers in Bacolod City were taken into protective custody Thursday, August 14, 2025, following a coordinated operation by the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) Anti-Mendicancy Team and Police Station 1 along the Bacolod public plaza.
The teenagers, aged 13 to 15, were allegedly involved in threatening a student outside a restaurant near the public plaza Wednesday, August 13.
A concerned parent posted a video on social media, claiming that one minor threatened her daughter's companion while wielding a scissor-like object.
The video was brought to the attention of Mayor Greg Gasataya, who immediately referred the incident to Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director Colonel Joeresty Coronica and the DSSD.
"I referred this matter to Coronica as it is an issue of public safety. We will also be asking the DSSD to take appropriate measures as well as coordinate with concerned government agencies," Gasataya said.
"With the clamour among parents and children, and given the situation, action was necessary," he added.
The mayor also visited Police Station 1 and checked on the condition of the three teenagers.
"Thank you for the cooperation, and rest assured that public safety remains a priority for Bacolod City," Gasataya said.
Coronica confirmed that the three teenagers matched those seen in footage showing four solvent-abusing youths allegedly harassing the student.
For her part, DSSD-Bacolod head Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga revealed potential legal repercussions for the teenagers’ guardians.
"In some cases where there is parental negligence, we can take custody while facilitating assistance. But for those who have already been warned, the state can also initiate actions to teach them a lesson," Verdeprado-Mangga said.
DSSD records showed that one of the teenagers, the 13-year-old, had fled from his house in Cadiz City, while the two others, identified as street-connected youth, were residents of Bacolod.
All three teenagers remain under DSSD's supervision at the Youth Home pending further interventions. (MAP)