Metro cops to round up street kids

Metro police chief Director Ricardo de Leon ordered yesterday a revitalized campaign to round up street children in the metropolis.

Ridding Metro Manila of street children is one way of keeping Filipino families safe in accordance with the "ONE Philippine National Police" conceptualized by PNP chief Director Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., he said.

De Leon met yesterday with Director Alice Bala, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region to discuss the PNP’s role in rescuing street children "before they turn to a life of crime."

"What we want is to prevent these street children from ultimately immersing themselves in criminality" De Leon said. "We want to save them from this lifestyle and inculcate in them the concept that there are better means to earn a living."

The Metro police chief ordered his five district directors to create their own Task Force Kalinga to oversee rescue operation in close coordination with the local DSWD units in the metropolis.

De Leon stressed that the concept of KALYE , which stands for Kaibigan, Alagad ng Batas, Lider at Lingkod ng Mamamayan, Yaman at Kaalaman at Ehemplo ng Katangi-tanging Asal, should not only focus on the campaign against all forms of criminality, but should try to uplift the lives of street dwellers.

During his meeting with Bala, De Leon threshed out the details of the police operations in coordination with the DSWD, under whose care the welfare of the children will be placed. — Non Alquitran