This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 37, October 23-29, 2005
50 Minors in Cordillera Jails At least 50 minors are
languishing in different jails in the Cordillera region, Northern Luzon, jail
officials revealed last week. Of these, 26 are undergoing trial in Baguio
City’s courts for crimes with some cases as heinous as rape.
By Lyn V. Ramo BAGUIO CITY - At
least 50 juveniles are languishing in different jails in the Cordillera region,
northern Luzon, officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP)
revealed at the Kapihan Hour with the Cordillera Association of Regional
Executives (CARE) last week. Of these, 26 are
undergoing trial in this city’s courts for crimes some of which are as heinous
as rape. Trials may be suspended against the minor offenders, as provided for by
Philippine penal laws. However, an official
of the Parole and Probation Administration in the region said that no government
agency is taking care of minor offenders at present. Lawyer Miguel Cawi, city
jail warden, said that even local social welfare authorities admitted that they
have no facility for the rehabilitation of minors. The basement of the
city jail serves as detention units for minors. Cawi said there are young
detainees who have been behind bars for as long as two years. Meanwhile, Parole and
Probation Regional Director Imelda Capili hopes that the country’s present
fragmented criminal justice system would create one office to handle the
juveniles’ cases. Three departments
handle correctional cases at present. These are, according to Capili, the
Department of Justice (DoJ), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The DOJ handles
parole cases, correctional, correctional institution for women and the penal
colonies; the provincial jails are directly under the provincial governor; and
minor offenders are handled by the DSWD. "Sana iisa na lang"
(I wish only one department handles all these), Capili said, adding that no
agency is taking care of juvenile delinquents. Social welfare
officer Liza Bulayungan said that her office gives follow-up care once the
detainees are released from jail. Two branches of the
Regional Trial Court, Branches 4 and 59 under Judge Amado S. Caguioa and Judge
Illuminada C. Cortes, respectively, handle cases against youth offenders.
Northern Dispatch / Bulatlat © 2005 Bulatlat
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Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat