OSC board seeks transportation

CEBU, Philippines - In order to help expedite case, the board of the Operation Second Chance appealed to the local government units outside Cebu City that have minors housed at the facility to provide transportation during court hearings.

The board also appealed to executive judges to expedite the resolution of the cases to prevent overstaying at the facility like the 52 residents of the OSC who have reached 18 years old.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña, a member of the OSC Management Board, said one of the common reasons why the cases of the children are delayed is because no vehicle can transport them to courts, especially for cases outside the city.

When a minor misses one hearing, it is postponed for six months or more, causing the case to prolong.

While waiting for the case to be resolved, the minors turn 18 along the way and the OSC cannot transfer them to a facility for adults because their cases are still pending.

It would also need a court order to transfer them to another facility for adults.

But Osmeña said they can be transferred to a rehabilitation facility operated by Department of Social Welfare and Development in Argao where they can stay until the age of 21.

The OSC only has one vehicle for transportation.

Osmeña said the vehicle prioritizes the minors of the city in case two or more minors have similar schedule of hearings.

There are about 90 OSC residents of the total 173 residents who are from outside the city.

LGUs with minors housed at the OSC are the municipality of Barili and Cordova and the cities of Danao, Talisay, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Toledo, among others.

Osmeña said they asked the LGUs to prioritize the provision of transportation but other forms of help in addition to transportation are welcome.

She said though that the city government and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) can still shoulder the food and other operation cost of the facility.

Omeña said the facility will not say no to minors outside the city because they understand that the city is the only LGU in Cebu with a facility for youth offenders.

The facility has also not reached its maximum capacity of 200 residents.

Osmeña said the board aims to expedite the resolution of the cases to provide the children justice they deserve as soon as possible. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/LPM (THE FREEMAN)