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Parents of the minors involved in the Sunday riot attend the meeting with the Manila local government (Photo courtesy of Manila PIO)
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has ordered the release of 48 minors involved in the Sept. 21 riot, bringing relief to their worried parents.
According to the Manila Prosecutor’s Office, the minors, classified as Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), will undergo a diversion program in accordance with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (Republic Act No. 9344), as amended by RA 10630.
The law allows CICL to be diverted from formal judicial proceedings and instead placed into community-based programs that focus on restorative justice rather than punishment.
The release was conducted in the presence of Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) Director Jay Dela Fuente and Ma. Victoria Diaz, Officer-in-Charge of the Child Rights Center of the Commission on Human Rights.
As part of the agreement, the parents of the minors pledged their cooperation with the city government.
They agreed to help clean Manila and to take full responsibility for supervising their children while they complete the diversion program.
Mayor Domagoso emphasized the importance of accountability while also upholding the rights of individuals, especially minors.
“Lahat tayo ay galit sa nangyayari sa gobyerno, subalit dapat isaalang-alang na may tumatakbong gobyerno, may karapatang pantao, at iyon ay patuloy nating igagalang (We are all angry about what’s happening in government, but we must also recognize that there is still a functioning government, and that human rights must be continuously respected),” Mayor Isko said. — Diann Calucin
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
