by Alfred Dalizon
Thursday, 04 February 2010 19:07
MAMANG PULIS -- PNP chief Director General Jesus A. Verzosa yesterday said all cops are complying with the landmark Juvenile Justice and Welfare Law which forbids sending to jail children in conflict with the law. Republic Act 9344 enacted in 2006 or the child protection law has resulted in improvements with children in conflict with law now being referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development bypassing police jails and other government-run detention centers.
Verzosa said he is against the practice of sending children to prison.
Police Regional Office 13 director, Chief Supt. Lino G. Calingasan clarified reports that Commission on Human Rights officials led by chairperson Leila de Lima found two minor inmates at the Agusan del Sur Provincial Correctional and Security Office (PCSO) during their visit last January 30.
Calingasan said that Regie S. Perez,15, and Jonjie P. Sanchez,16, were among the members of the Ondo Group that held 73 persons hostage in Bgy. San Martin, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, last December 10. The suspects surrendered to the Crisis Management Committee after a 3-day standoff.
“It was known early that there are minors among the group of Ondo Perez that surrendered,” the PRO13 chief said.
The group of Perez was turned over to the Provincial Social Welfare and Development headed by Mrs. Josefina Bajade.
Calingasan said that while waiting for the filing of cases against them, the suspects were placed under the protective custody of the Agusan del Sur Provincial Police Office in Patin-ay, Prosperidad town where they were placed in one of the police barracks since there is no jail facility inside the police headquarters.
Calingasan said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group also made it clear in their complaint sheet that Perez and Sanchez are minors, with their ages indicated in the transmittal letter to the fiscal.
He said that finding probable cause, the fiscal’s office filed cases of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in court and subsequently issued a commitment order against the suspects.
Calingasan said that since the names of Perez and Sanchez were included in the Commitment Order, the Agusan del Sur police transferred them to the PCSO where De Lima found them during their visit.
“It has to be noted that PCSO is a facility of the provincial government of Agusan del Sur and not the Philippine National Police. Likewise, the PNP had never been remiss in informing the PSWD and the fiscal’s office that among the group of Ondo Perez are minors,” he said.
Calingasan said their latest information showed that the jail warden of the PCSO had brought the minors to the office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development for determination of their real age.
“The PNP had not been remiss in the performance of its duties with regard to the alleged confinement of minors in a jail facility. The PNP just complied with the Court Order when it transferred the custody of the Ondo Perez Group to the Agusan del Sur PCSO including the minors. Never had these minors been confined inside a jail while in the custody of the Agusan del Sur police,” Calingasan said.
http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/national/2472-pnp-following-special-child-protection-act.html
