4 policemen sued for violation of Juvenile Law

CEBU, Philippines - Four policemen are facing criminal complaints before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for alleged violation of the Juvenile Law.

Eden Singson has accused Senior Insp. Audie Pelayo, SPO3 Renerio Masocol Jr., PO3 Edgardo Papaya, and PO3 Ronald Nuñez all of Carmen Police Station of violating Sections 21 and 22 of Republic Act 9344 otherwise known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 in relation to Section 11 of the Rule on Juveniles in Conflict with Law.

Singson said her 17-year-old son, Dennis, was arrested on May 5 for alleged illegal possession of firearm and violation of the Comelec gun ban. The complainant said, the respondents failed to observe the rules in handling juvenile offender.

According to Singson, her son was charged in court without indicating his minority in the information of the case and without assessment of discernment by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“In the sworn statement of the arresting officers, there is a manifestation that they skip the age of my son being a minor even if they are fully aware of the minority of my son,” Singson said.

She also accused the respondents of trying to extort money from her in exchange for the release of her son. Singson said she was only able to visit her son a day after his arrest because of financial problem.

When she visited her son, Singson said she asked the respondents to release her son for being a minor. However, one of the respondents, Masocol, allegedly demanded P120,000 for his release.

Masocol also asked for a copy of her son’s birth certificate which she gladly provided on the same day she visited at the police station.

But despite knowing the minority of her son and because of her failure to give in to the demand for money, the police filed the case against her son.

Masocol denied the allegations. He told The Freeman that based on their background investigation, Dennis, was already in his legal age. In fact, he already worked as watcher of a construction site.

Masocol said that the birth certificate was only presented to them after the filing of the case.— /FPL (FREEMAN)