A ROUTINE curfew patrol escalated into a late-night maritime rescue operation early Sunday morning after 11 minors jumped into the sea to evade local barangay authorities along the Davao City Coastal Road in Barangay Leon Garcia, Agdao around 12:40 a.m. on July 5.
According to the police report, barangay peacekeepers (tanods) were enforcing the City Curfew Ordinance when they spotted a group of adolescents loitering along the seawall.
Panicking at the sight of the approaching officials, the 11 minors leaped directly off the edge into the open waters below.
Recognizing the immediate threat of drowning, barangay officials immediately radioed for emergency reinforcement. Personnel of the Davao City Police Office and the Philippine Coast Guard rushed to the scene, successfully pulling all 11 individuals safely out of the water.
The minors were transported to the Sta. Ana Police Station for immediate medical evaluation and formal profiling. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and none of the minors were found in possession of illicit items.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) was brought in to conduct psychosocial evaluations and intake processing.
Moreover, barangay officials convened mandatory late-night conferences with the minors’ respective parents and legal guardians.
Following the standardized counseling sessions and official documentation, all 11 minors were safely released into the custody of their parents later that morning.
Authorities issued a fresh reminder to families to strictly monitor their children’s whereabouts, especially at night.
