Doc examines ‘beautiful girl’

CEBU, Philippines - The minor tagged as “the beautiful shoplifter” by netizens underwent psychological evaluation the other day after she was observed to be undergoing emotional distress following her arrest.

Closely monitored but unvisited by relatives, she remains in the custody of the Cebu Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office after a complaint for estafa was filed against her recently.

Rose Jao, PSWDO assistant officer-in-charge, said the minor is treated well but is under close watch by female security guards in a Capitol facility, which has served as the child’s home for the past five days.

Jao said they are constantly watching over the minor, who has been longing to return home but was apprehensive on what would happen to her once she gets out.

“There is mixed emotion. She is glad that somebody cares for her, (but) there is still that feeling kung asa siya padulong after. After all what people had said about her, she does not know unsay acceptance sa mga tawo niya after the incident,” Jao told reporters, adding that the minor asked that she be spared from media interviews.

The minor is facing a criminal complaint for allegedly not paying her bills amounting to P15, 000 at a resort in Asturias town.

She had gained prominence in social media after being involved in a shoplifting incident in a store in Mandaue City. She was also accused of not paying her bill for salon services recently.

Jao said she had a talk with the minor over the phone one evening and the girl was crying.

“There might be some factors (why she was emotional) but we don’t know yet,” Jao said.

A medical psychologist from the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center examined the minor last Monday.

The Cebu PSWDO still has to confer with the social welfare office of the minor’s hometown in Sogod, Leyte on custody over her since the town has no facility to house children in conflict with the law.

“There should also be somebody from the family nga maka-help nato aron mahuman ning kasoha. But in the meantime that she is with us, I should assure that she is safe and secure and iyang mga needs ma-provide gyod,” Jao said. — (FREEMAN)