PRO-7 raises crime awareness among kids

CEBU, Philippines —  The Police Regional Office-7 has reached out to the children in the barangays in Central Visayas in celebration of the Children's Month to build-up relationships and to separate them from the vulnerability to any forms of violence.

Police Lt. Colonel Maria Aurora Rayos, information officer of the PRO-7, said that in line with their annual celebration of Children's Month, they have been focusing on reaching out to the children giving the emphasis that “children are the hope of our future”.

"Makaingon tag luma na, pero mao ra gihapon na sya kay sila gihapon atong future, so makaingon ta nga vulnerable atong mga kabataan, kay huyang sila samtang kung naay krimen nga mahitabo hadlokon lang sila," said Rayos.

"For example naay krimen sa sulod sa panimalay, ingnon sila nga kung motug-an ka sa imong mama ug papa, patyon nako imong mga ginikanan," she added.

Rayos also said that this celebration will enable them to spread awareness among the children that they could report the incident to the police.

When the pandemic crisis hit, Rayos said this has continually challenged them since the children could no longer report in their school which was usually done before.

"Didto pwede man sila kasumbong sa ilang teacher, kung sulod sa panimalay nya ang perpetrator naa sulod sa panimalay, maong wala sila kabalo asa sila motug-an sa sulod sa ilang panimalay," said Rayos.

On this, Rayos said they have conducted visitations and programs in the barangays around the region to encourage the children that they could report to the police in the absence of their teachers physically.

Aside from this, they are also encouraging each barangay to be a safe place for the children to report any crimes particularly those committed inside their houses.

For this year, the PRO-7 celebrates the 29th National Children’s Month (NCM) with the theme, “New Normal na Walang Iwanan: Karapatan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tutukan!” for the whole of November. — GMR (FREEMAN)