A Regional Trial Court judge yesterday asked the City Legal Office to investigate erring personnel at the Social Development Center in Bacolod City that houses children in conflict with the law (CICL).

Bacolod RTC Branch 43 Judge Philadelfa Agraviador, in her letter to the City Legal Office, was referring to the case of a teenager at the SDC who was allegedly impregnated by a fellow CICL resident .

Agraviador asked the CLO to investigate the matter and file proper administrative charges against the erring personnel if merited.

She also told the CLO that her request for an investigation is based on an incident report submitted to her by Social Welfare Officer 1 Jennifer Chang, who is in charge of both CICLs involved in the incident at the SDC.

Agraviador’s court has jurisdiction over the female CICL who is facing drug raps, and the male who has a case for frustrated murder.

In her report, Chang said the female managed to conceal her pregnancy for many months by wearing loose garments.

Upon confrontation, she admitted having a discreet intimate relationship with another CICL, Chang added.

Both escaped together from the SDC in December 2011 and also left the center unnoticed in March 2012 although they were recovered a few hours later by the house parents, Chang said.

“The boys and girls have separate living quarters and other children and house parents are always in the vicinity to notice uncompromising situations,” Chang said, but added, “both apparently found means to indulge in misbehavior, which resulted in teenage pregnancy.”

The parents of the two teenagers were dismayed at first but agreed to accept the situation and give moral support to the pregnant girl, Chang reported to Agraviador.

This uncompromising situation at the SDC provided lessons and challenges to be more vigilant despite limitations to staff resources and facilities, Chang added.*CPG

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