86 ‘children in conflict with the law’ in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY -- The City Social Welfare and Development Office recorded 86 cases of “children in conflict with the law” in the city last year.
    CSWD Officer Liza Bulayungan said that 62 of the cases were unfiled while 24 cases were filed with the corresponding courts in the city.
    She SAID offenses committed by the CICL were physical injuries with 21 cases followed by theft with 16, slight physical injuries – 14 cases, violation of Republic Act (RA) 10883 or the Anti-Carnapping Act of 2016 – 8 cases, violation of RA 8363 or the Anti-Rape Law – 6 cases, violation of 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act – 5 cases, violation of RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs act – 4 cases, acts of lasciviousness – 3 cases, robbery, frustrated murder and violation of RA 9995 – 2 cases each and murder or homicide, sexual assault and violation of RA 9165 – 1 case each.

    The CSWDO official said 79 of those involved in CICL cases were  males of 92 percent while seven were females or around eight percent.
    According to her, 53 offenders belonged to the 12-15 years old category, 31 belong to the 16-17 years old category, and 2 belong to the 9-11 years old category.
Bulayungan added that 72 individuals had been subjected to the prescribed community-based intervention, 6 others underwent the center-based intervention, 3 children went through the community-based diversion, 2 children went through the center-based diversion and after care program while 1 person was subjected to appropriate disposition by the CSWDO.

    She noted 61 were living with their families, 12 children were turned over or discharged, eight  at the center and five referred to other local social welfare and development offices.
    Last year,  cases committed by the CICL were bullying, violation of RA 9165; in 2023, the common cases were theft, physical injuries and theft while in 2022, the top committed cases were again theft, physical injuries and theft.
    Among barangays with high recorded CICL cases are Irisan with 5 followed by Bakakeng Central, Balsigan, Loakan Proper, Pinget, Pinsao Proper and Sto. Tomas Proper with – 4 cases each.
 

    The CSWDO recorded some 82 CICL cases in 2022 before it increased to 94 cases in 2023 and eventually dropped to 86 cases last year.  -- PIO

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New gov’t hotline to boost campaign vs child abuse

The Department of Social Welfare and Development urged the public to utilize the Makabata Helpline 1383 to report cases of child abuse.
    The Makabata Helpline is a mechanism developed by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), an attached agency of the DSWD, to provide immediate response, monitoring, and feedback via calls, electronic mail, and different social media platforms about all child rights and concerns.
    These include legal queries, psychosocial support, referral services to appropriate agencies involved in safeguarding children’s rights, and reporting of child abuse and emergency cases, among others.
    Since its launch in November 2022, a total of 156 reports via text, calls, emails, and chat have been received by the helpline, of which, 76.28 percent of cases were closed, while 19.23 percent are pending with limited traction and 4.48 percent are on-going.
    “The CWC is consistently seeking out partnerships with non-government organizations and national government agencies to strengthen the implementation of the Makabata Helpline 1383 because we believe that this mechanism will truly help us to protect and uphold the rights of children,” DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said.
    Lopez, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, reminded the public not to use the hotline for prank calls or false inquiries.
    “We continue to remind the public that this hotline must only be used for emergency cases. So please avoid making prank calls or false reports because it may cause grave consequences for those who are in distress,” Lopez explained. -- Jing Villamente
 
 

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Child abuses cases up in Baguio; officials alarmed

BAGUIO CITY – Child abuse cases here have risen alarming officials.
    The City Social Welfare and Development Office bared significant increase in child abuse cases that interventions with the families of the victims and perpetrators were needed.
    Assistant City Social and Welfare and Development Officer Cynhtia Langagan disclosed that for the first six months of this year, there were 96 child abuse cases reported in the city compared to the 45 cases that were recorded during the whole year of 2022.
    For the children in conflict with the law, Langagan cited 36 cases during the first semester of this year compared to 82 cases documented by the CSWDO for the whole year.
    For children at risk, the CSWDO official said for the first six months of this year, there were 15 cases compared to the 43 cases reported last year.
    According to her, the majority of the children in need of special protection belong to dysfunctional families that is why there was need for the CSWDO to enhance local government’s advocacy on family relations.
    Langagan said the local government will be aggressive on organizing fora on strengthening family relations in partnership with the various offices and the barangays to contribute in informing the residents on how to preserve the relations within their families.
    She added results of case studies of the victims of child abuse prepared by the CSWDO will be basis for the local government to make interventions to reduce child abuse incidents. --Dexter A. see

 

 

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45 child abuse cases in Baguio City bared

BAGUIO CITY – The City Social Welfare and Development Office  reported 45 child abuse cases documented by the city government in city barangays  last year.
    CSWDO Gender and Development focal person Myrna Valencerina claimed that of the said cases, 12 cases had already been filed with the proper authorities while there are still 33 cases that remain unfilled for various reasons.               
    The CSWDO official claimed that two cases had already been provided with decisions by the concerned authorities while 10 cases are still undergoing trial with the proper courts.               
    She explained that the 33 pending cases are reportedly undergoing the appropriate intervention programs being spearheaded by the CSWDO and other partners to allow the reformation of those involved in the said cases before they will be allowed to join mainstream society. 
    According to her, of the abused children, 40 are females and 5 are males who were said to be victims of various abuses.
    Among the types of abuses committed against the children include sexual abuses with 31 female victims; physical abuse with 7 female and 4 male victims; psychological abuse with 1 female victim, and neglect with 1 male and 1 female victim.   
    In terms of the age bracket, most of the abused children belong to the 11-18 age group with 36 cases followed by those belonging to the below 5 years old bracket with 6and 3 cases for those in the 6 to 10 years old age bracket. -- Dexter A. see

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