Mother complains about arrest of 16-year-old son

CEBU, Philippines - A mother has accused policemen from Talisay City of allegedly mauling her 16-year-old son and putting him in detention with adults after the boy was arrested for reportedly stealing the cellular phone of a trisikad driver.

The mother, Hermogina Rabaya, claimed that police arrested her son last Friday night after the triskad driver, who is also a minor, complained that his cellular phone was stolen.

While the mother did not deny that her son committed the crime, she alleged that she had to plea for the police to put the boy in another detention area.

She also alleged that the police beat up her son, who the authorities said was already 18 years old.

The mother sought the help of barangay officials and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to help prove that he son is still a minor.

She, however, was reportedly denied access to the blotter when she went to the Talisay City Police Station along with San Isidro barangay councilwoman Lucia Alcover, Fe Bacaltos of DSWD and tanod Fransico Deiparine to check on the entry about the arrest of her son.

Rabaya also claimed that she was told to leave the detention center when she went there to ask that her son be put in a cell separate from the adult as he is still a minor.

She alleged that the policemen told her that they were still waiting for orders from the city police chief, Supt. Henry Biñas.

Seeking the assistance of the media, the mother went back to the police station yesterday accompanied by a radio reporter and barangay councilman Mario Zafra of San Isidro. This time, she had a copy of her son’s baptismal certificate to prove his age and also had a chance to talk to Biñas.

Upon seeing proof of the boy’s age, Biñas ordered the transfer of the boy from the detention cell to the visitors’ area.

Biñas said that he will also be coordinating with the DSWD if the boy, who lost his phone, would be formally pressing charges against the suspect.

The police chief also assured that he will conduct an investigation into the allegations that the suspect was mauled.

He will summon arresting officers PO2 Riolito Pano and PO1 June Dave David to get their side of the story. — Barbara Anne B. Ocaba (THE FREEMAN)