20 solvent boys arrested on Jones Bridge

MANILA, Philippines – Some 20 solvent-sniffing minors were rounded up by the police yesterday on the Jones Bridge in Binondo, Manila following the reported rampant thefts of bridge lights and vandalism of its structure.

Meisic police station chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut led his men in the day-time operation which netted the young boys, mostly in their teens. Yabut said others managed to elude arrest by jumping into the Pasig River.

The operation was conducted following the reported theft of street lights on top of the Jones Bridge allegedly perpetrated by young boys high on drugs. “In their attempt to steal the lights they are also accidentally destroying the ornate steel casings,” Yabut said.

Personnel of the Pasig River Ferry System which ferries commuters to other cities of Metro Manila also reported acts of lasciviousness by the “rugby” boys. They said naked teen boys would line up on the bridge’s steel scaffolding and would intentionally show their genitals to passengers of passing ferry boats. Young couples visibly high on drugs would also make love on the bridge support beams in full view of commuters.

Yabut tasked Gandara police community precinct commander Chief Inspector Christian de la Cruz to intensify patrol on Jones Bridge even at night to drive away the young vandals.           

Yabut also called for the reactivation of the Manila police’s Mobile Bay and River Patrol team to patrol the Pasig River coastlines. – Nestor Etolle