CEBU, Philippines — The 13-year-old boy who died last Sunday after a fire hit Sitio Galilee, Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City, was supposed to be housed in the Child Welfare Center of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
This was revealed by his adoptive mother named Portia Cahan in a local radio program "Straight to the Point" with Atty. Ruphil Bañoc.
As recounted by Portia, she had taken care of Wrenchford Rey Abala Cahan since birth, as his biological mother who worked as her nanny left him behind, while his biological father passed away.
Portia continued by sharing that Wrenchford began acting naughty after finishing elementary school. He started wandering around and staying away from home for days without returning.
Due to repeated instances of running away, Portia eventually brought Wrenchford to the DSWD Labangon Center, hoping it would help him.
However, Portia later learned of the alleged harsh treatment he endured at the center. She said the head of the center would reportedly stomp on him and beat him.
“Kung nakahibalo palang ko nga kulatahon diay siya, ako naning gikuha siguro kay di man gani ko kadapat aning Enteng (Wrenchford),” said Portia.
In a separate interview, Child Welfare Center head Maria Taping denied the allegations regarding the supposed maltreatment of the child.
She said Wrenchford entered the center around August 2024. After staying there for several months he would suddenly leave without notice.
In fact, he had left the center four times already. The last time was on December 8, 2024, during which, according to Taping, he received money from an organization during their outreach program.
Since then, the boy has not returned to the center. That was when he began living in the house of Loreto Clemente, his schoolmate’s father, which was later destroyed by fire.
Taping explained that after Cahan ran away for the fourth time, they tried to trace his whereabouts. Together with their psychometrician and program coordinator, they went to the Don Carlos A. Gothong Memorial National High School in Cebu City to check his academic performance.
“Amo sad gi follow-up sa school kon nag eskwela paba siya. Didto mi nakahibalo nga nikuyog o nipuyo siya sa balay sa iyang schoolmate,” said Taping.
A few days later, Wrenchford left the place where he was staying. Around 9 p.m., a woman --possibly an aunt or the mother of the classmate he was staying with-- visited the center but was told to come back the next day because the social worker was unavailable. However, after that incident, they never returned.
Taping said the center has house rules, and minimal sanctions are given to children who violate them.
“Naa tay record nga nihawa siya diri, unya nabalik napud… Ang sanction niya ato very minimal, pahugason sa plato ug palimpyohon sa ilang room,” said Taping.
“Kanang ingon nga maltreatment, di g’yud ko motuo ana kay in fact ang mga staff and members sa center, gi-awardan pud nato sila,” she added.
She explained that the center allows the children to rate the staff and house parents to ensure that relationships within the center are positive and effective.
“Aware atong mga staff anang mga right sa mga child… So walay violation ang mga bata nga dili sila aware,” Taping said.
Taping shared that Wrenchford was generally a good child, but the main issue was his habit of leaving without permission and not returning for several days.
The remains of Wrenchford were laid to rest yesterday at Veterans Cemetery.
In a phone interview, Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera said the city government assisted with the burial expenses.
“We took care of the burial of the coffin and everything, we took care of it and we provided bus pud para sa iyang mga friends and kaila,” said Garganera.
When asked about the allegations of maltreatment at the center, he said he had not heard of any such reports.
“Well in a center for that matter naa man gud na silay house rules. Kung pananglitan makahimo kag infraction, pahugason ka sa mga plato. I think these are house rules and wala sad g’yud koy report nga nadawat nga naay maltreatment,” he said.
Cahan had been living with Clemente’s family for a month before the fire. He was the only person who perished in the blaze, which left over 200 individuals homeless. — (FREEMAN)