Seven remain at large: 4 minor escapees surrender to police

CEBU, Philippines — Four of the 11 minor offenders who bolted out Friday night from the Operation Second Chance in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City have already surrendered to the authorities last Sunday.

Cebu City Police Office director Col. Gemma Vinluan said among those who surrendered was the minor who planned the escape.

“Yung nagyaya ng pagtakas sumurender na noong Sunday, may apat na narecover so eleven lahat sila.Tinask na natin ang bawat police station na hanapin yung pito pa (Four have surrendered on Sunday, including the one who led the escape. I have tasked all the police stations to look for the remaining seven),” Vinluan said.

The escapees were part of the 20 children in conflict with the law (CICL) who escaped from the rehabilitation facility last Friday. Nine of them were immediately taken back into custody of the house parents and the social workers before they could flee.

Vinluan said the remaining escapees are expected to surrender soon because the management of the rehabilitation facility has already communicated with the parents. According to Vinluan, the parents allegedly promised to surrender their children as soon as possible.

Guadalupe Police Station chief Major Dindo Juanito Alaras said some of the parents requested to give them more time.

“Nihangyo ra sila gahapon na makig spend time sila sa ilang family (They asked yesterday that they’d be given more time to spend with their family),” Alaras said.

Meanwhile, Vinluan has ordered to beef up the security of the facility effectively immediately. Two policemen have been assigned to augment the security of the facility 24 hours a day.

Vinluan also visited the center and personally inquired from the residents what prompted the minors to escape.

“Pinuntahan ko na sila, actually kinausap ko na yung mga bata dun sa kani-kanilang barracks, at kinausap ko sila anong reason, parang nagkayayaan lang daw,” Vinluan said.

According to Vinluan, she explained to the CICLs that they are safe inside the facility and are able to have an education.

“Parang sinabi ko sa kanila na safe naman sila sa second chance, kumakain sila doon ng three times a day, nakakakapag-aral sila, so ano pa ang kanilang gagawin. Ano pa ang kanilang pipiliin,” Vinluan said.

The police official is asking the community to visit the facility and extend help to the minor offenders. She said these children were just victims of wrong parenting and poverty.

“Ang batang nandoon ay naligaw ng landas at kailangan nila ng kalinga at pagmamahal. Kung hindi man ito nagawa ng kanilang mga magulang, baka pwedeng gawin ito ng community,” Vinluan said.

“Tulungan natin ang second chance, hindi kakayanin to ng ating local government na sila lang or ng kami (PNP) lang,) she added.

The facility is currently home to more than 70 youth offenders. Most of them are facing drug charges. (FREEMAN)