The number of reported cases of children in conflict with the law from January to May this year dropped 50 percent compared to the same period last year, records from the Women and Children’s Complaints Desk of the Bacolod City police showed yesterday.

Last year there were 232 cases of CICLs recorded in the first five months of the year, while there were only 116 this year, WCCD head, Insp. Jovy Cabcaban said.

Cabcaban attributed the drop of the number of case against CICLs to the awareness of the minors that they can be charged court after they reach 15 to 17 years old as provided under the juvenile justice act.

She said that in their interviews with the minors brought to their office, they said they are afraid to commit crimes as there is a that they would end up in jail when they are already between 15 and 17 year old.

Cabcaban added that most of the offenses committed by these minors are petty crimes like theft and shoplifting.

Gina Castro, head of the Bacolod City Social Welfare and Development Center who has been a social worker for almost 30 years, had told the DAILY STAR that she noted the children involved in crimes are getting younger and younger.

Castro said minors, aged 15 to 17, caught for various offenses are brought to SDC where they have counseling activities and community services so they will no longer go back to their old ways.

She said minors 14-years-old and below, are immediately brought to their parents or to their relatives, since, under the law they cannot be held in a youth center for long.

Cabcaban also said that the Youth Detention Shelter to be established by the Bacolod City government near the Relocation Site in Brgy. Granada, is now being worked on.

Once it is built, CICLs who are facing charges for heinous crimes will be brought there and those with minor offenses to the Social Development Center.*APN

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