CEBU, Philippines - Six minors were held at the Fuente Police Station after they robbed a Japanese tourist early yesterday morning. It was the fourth time three of them were taken in for questioning in relation to theft.
Earlier, eight minors robbed the tourist, who was walking with his girlfriend, along Gen. Maxilom Ave., running away with his bag containing more than P100,000. The minors helped each other overpower the victim, some held his arms, another slapped him while the others went for his wallet.
It was 2 a.m. along Gen. Maxilom Ave. when policemen of the Cebu City Police Office Homicide Section caught up with six of the minors while two managed to run away.
According to the police, one of the minors hid the money in her underwear. Most of the money was recovered, the rest were with the two minors who got away.
The five minors, aged eight to 14, are studying in different public school here in Cebu City. Three of them have already been held for questioning at the said police station on three other occasions.
The children were released as police cannot charge minors under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, an act that is fast gaining criticism because it is often abused by minor offenders and criminals who use minors in their operations.
According to the CCPO director Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe said it is the growing absence of parental supervision that these children lack.
Buenafe added that since they cannot arrest and detain these children they are making a program that would somehow start a change in them.
He said that they have this Adlaw sa mga Batang Libod-Suroy that will deter street children from crime.
“We are trying to do whatever we are allowed to do that is not in conflict with the law, we will coordinate with other agencies regarding these cases,” Buenafe said.
Meanwhile a woman lost her cellular phone worth P30,000 to two pickpockets using the “laglag-barya” ploy yesterday along N. Bacalso Ave., Barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City, yesterday morning.
Maricris Cabase a resident of B. Rodriguez, Cebu City said that she was on a jeepney with route number 41F bound for Cebu City and one of her fellow passengers pretended to drop a coin.
It was when she bent over to help him get the coin that another man allegedly took her cellular phone.
The victim only noticed her phone was missing after the two men disembarked.
PO3 Celso Seville advised all the people to be vigilant when riding a PUJ. Seville cautioned passengers that robbers often choose to sit near the exits of a jeepney.
“Kung makabantay gani ka nga mamugos sila og lingkod sa tumoy bisan luag ang unahan, naog nalang kay tulis na,” Seville said.
He also said other robbers insist on sitting on the crowded side of a PUJ even if there is more space on the other side. Some robbers also will try to distract the victims by talking loud or telling the victim that they have dirt on their shirt.
“Kalimti gyud ang personal matters or bisan unsa basta magsakay sa jeep bantayi ang mga tawo nga musakay kay wa ka kabalo ikaw na ang sunod na biktima,” Seville added. (FREEMAN)