Gov’t execs barred from inspecting youth facility in Pasig City

Patty Pasion

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Gov’t execs barred from inspecting youth facility in Pasig City
The Department of Social Welfare and Development acts on reports that minors arrested from a protest last week in Pasig City are being beaten up

MANILA, Philippines – Several top officials of the government were not allowed to enter in a youth facility in Pasig City which was holding minors arrested from a protest in the Manggahan Floodway last August 31 which resulted in a riot. 

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Malou Turalde-Jarabe, Gabriela Representative Arlene Brosas, National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Liza Maza and Kabataan Representative Sarah Elago visited the Bahay Aruga facility to check on the reported abuse of the detained minors. 

Turalde-Jarabe and Brosas went to the facility on Sunday, September 3, while Maza and Elago visited on Monday, September 4. Both parties were denied entry. 

Some 10 minors were arrested, together with 31 adults, last August 31, after a clash between police and a group protesting a demolition turned into a riot.  Settlers in the Manggahan Floodway in Pasig are facing demolition after the local government declared the site as a danger zone. 

The rally was led by urban poor group Kadamay but not all of those detained were members of the organization. 

Turalde-Jarabe said that based on testimonies executed before a fiscal during inquest, the minors in the youth facility were being beaten up. 

One of the youth even said in his statement during inquest that he was manhandled inside the comfort room of the facility because there were no CCTV cameras there. Some parents also told Turalde-Jarabe that they were prevented from seeing their detained kids since their arrest. (READ: When ‘Houses of Hope’ fail children in conflict with the law

“No reason was given to us. Sabi iyon daw ang instructions sa kanila (We were told it was the instruction given to them.) They gave a few names, a certain Archie Salmo [who] is working as a social welfare officer under the local social welfare office,” the DSWD undersecretary said. 

“Personally, as a mom and as an official of the department na nangangalaga sa mga bata, nagwo-worry talaga ako kasi ano na iyong nangyayari sa mga bata,” she added. 

(Personally, as a mom and as an official of the department that takes care of the children’s welfare, I worry what is happening to the kids there.) 

  

   

JJWC inspection 

Youth detention facilities like Bahay Aruga are under the management of the local government unit. But based on the provisions of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act, the DSWD has a regulatory function over them.  (READ: Beyond juvenile delinquency: Why children break the law)

Turalde-Jarabe also noted that their agency’s Protective Services Bureau said that the center’s accreditation expired in June 29 this year. 

She also stressed that there was still no court order to hold the children, especially that two of them are aged 12 and 13 years old. 

“For 12 and 13 year olds, they should have been subjected to a diversion program and not detention right away,” she said.

Earlier this morning, she and DSWD officer-in-charge Emmanuel Leyco met with the Juvenile Justice Welfare Council (JJWC), which is an attached agency of the department. JJWC was set to conduct an inspection this afternoon. 

Meanwhile, Brosas will file a House resolution on Tuesday, September 5, to seek for an inquiry on the facility. – Rappler.com 

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Avatar photo

author

Patty Pasion

Patty leads the Rappler+ membership program. She used to be a Rappler multimedia reporter who covered politics, labor, and development issues of vulnerable sectors.