Cop immerses with street kids to help fight crimes

CEBU, Philippines – A police official in Mandaue City is involving street children in civic activities as a way of helping curb petty crimes.

Chief Inspector Mark Anthony Bastes, head of Mandaue City Police Office’s Investigation and Detective Management Branch, dreams to be known the “Father of Street Children” in the city.

In his spare time, Bastes immerses himself with the street children by treating them to a meal in fast-food restaurants, taking them to church, and jogging with them at five in the afternoon.

This is Bastes’ way of curtailing the volume of crimes involving street children, he said.

“Ang usa nga nakapaingon nako ana, tungod sa pagka-police nako. Ang crime volume mao gyo’y akong gi-target. Isip usa ka hepe, ma-concern man gyod ka sa crime volume. Maka-contribute man gud na sila (street children) sa crime,” Bastes said.

Bastes said he started helping street children in 2008 when eight of them approached him and asked if they could join a fun run organized by Cebu City’s Fuente Police Station, where he was then assigned.

He said these children ran with him towards the finish line. Because of the time he spent with the children, he eventually convinced them to come back to school and be good citizens.

“Naa gyo’y nausab. Naa’y mga bata kawatan sauna, nabuotan (Some really changed for the better. Those who were once linked to theft became good kids),” Bastes said.

However, some of these children came back to the streets after he was transferred to Mandaue and then in Toledo City.

In Toledo, Bastes once again did the same thing for street children.

“Nagsugod na pud ko didto (Toledo). Didto na pu’y mga batang kagaw gitawag sa mga tawo didto sa Toledo. Pagkahuman, nawala na pud ko. Although naa gyo’y mga bata didto nausab,” Bastes said.

Bastes is hoping that this time, there will be people who will follow what he is doing.

“I want results… Kon mahatagan ko’g time anhi ko ma-assign, anhi na pud ko mo-retire, paabuton nako ang mga bata,” Bastes said.

Bastes founded a group called Police Athletic League Tracker that helps him in his cause. Around 200 police officers and volunteers comprise the group.

Although the group has plans to expand to other cities and towns in the future, it is focusing on Mandaue at present.

Bastes said the street children in the city have improved. However, he could not say how many of these children have changed.