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children in conflict with the law

Interventions working

by Rhoda Grace Saron June 24, 2026

written by Rhoda Grace Saron

Davao City juvenile delinquency cases continue to decrease: DCPO

THE DAVAO City Police Office (DCPO) has reported a downward trend in juvenile delinquency cases over the last two years, attributing the decline to stricter enforcement of local ordinances and effective social rescue interventions.

Speaking at the Davao Peace and Security Press Briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday, June 24, DCPO spokesperson Major Teresita Gaspan disclosed that Davao City recorded only 22 children in conflict with the law (CICL) cases from January to May 2026.

Contrast that with the 82 cases recorded in 2025 and 93 cases in 2024.

Given the steady contraction of youth-related offenses, Gaspan doubts the effectiveness of the ongoing legislative proposals to lower the minimum age of criminal liability.

“In terms of lowering the age of discernment, I don’t think that is favorable,” Gaspan said, pointing to the city’s improving numbers.

She noted that while any level of juvenile crime remains “somewhat alarming,” the continuous drop proves that existing localized programs are yielding positive results.

DCPO data revealed that of the 22 cases recorded so far this year, 16 have already been solved, while six are considered cleared.

Demographic breakdowns show that male minors consistently comprise the overwhelming majority of offenders, accounting for 20 of the 22 cases in 2026, compared to just two females.

In terms of age distribution, older adolescents remain the most vulnerable demographic, with 15 of the current year’s cases involving minors aged 15 to 17. Only five cases involved 12-to-15-year-olds, and two cases involved children aged 9 to 11.

Regarding the current legal status of the 2026 offenders, police records indicate that 10 minors were arrested, seven were released, and five remain at large.

Gaspan emphasized that the police force does not rely solely on punitive measures, balancing law enforcement with rehabilitation.

The DCPO closely coordinates with the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO), deploying a Quick Response Team to rescue unsupervised street children before they can be exposed to or engage in criminal activities.

For minors who face formal charges, institutional custody is handled systematically.

“Considering that cases will not be filed against [all of] them, what we are doing for those with filed cases is placing them in Bahay Pag-Asa,” Gaspan added.

June 24, 2026 0 comments

News

Justice, welfare chiefs convene at DCPO to overhaul strategy for at-risk youth, child offenders

by Rhoda Grace Saron May 22, 2026

written by Rhoda Grace Saron

TOP OFFICIALS from the local judiciary, public defense, and social welfare sectors gathered at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) headquarters on Wednesday morning, May 20, to craft a unified legal and operational framework on children in conflict with the law (CICL) and youth-at-risk.

The consultative stakeholders dialogue, held at the DCPO’s Presidential Hall at 10 a.m., brought together key pillars of the local juvenile justice system to address institutional gaps in child protection and rehabilitation.

The closed-door information exchange marked a rare, simultaneous strategy session between law enforcement and the city’s primary legal and social institutions, led

The meeting was led by Col. Peter Bauzon Madria, DCPO director, and attended by Julie P. Dayaday, officer-in-charge of the City Social Welfare and Development Office; Fiscal Armand Tirol, City Prosecutor; Atty. Genevive Belen of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), and Jerome Gumbao representing the Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee.

During the dialogue, Madria emphasized that addressing juvenile delinquency requires a departure from traditional law enforcement methods, advocating instead for an aggressive, multi-agency intervention template.

“We cannot solve the issues of vulnerable children or youth criminality through policing alone,” Madria stated, expressing credit to the CSWDO for engineering the multi-sectoral summit.

He reaffirmed that the DCPO is aligning its field operations with community-led rehabilitation and protection initiatives rather than relying solely on punitive detentions.

The dialogue integrated local grassroots leadership, drawing active participation from barangay kagawads representing various districts across Davao City, as well as frontline DCPO family juvenile gender sensitivity officers.

Local barangay officials are often the first responders to disturbances involving neighborhood youth.

Authorities noted that providing these local councils with a direct line to the City Prosecutor, PAO, and CSWDO ensures that diversion programs for minor offenders can be executed rapidly at the village level, preventing at-risk youth from entering the formal criminal justice system.

May 22, 2026 0 comments

News

Police rescue underage burglar

by Rhoda Grace Saron October 12, 2025

written by Rhoda Grace Saron

A SWIFT response to an alarm led Talomo Police Station personnel to stop a burglary and apprehend a minor at the CARD Bank near the Matina Public Market around 11:35 p.m. on Oct. 10, 2025.

Police said the youth involved has been safely endorsed for processing as a child in conflict with the law (CICL).

According to Major Genesis Oriel, PS3-Talomo commander, Corporal Eric Tauro and a police auxiliary responded to the CARD Bank alarm, and they observed a man acting suspiciously in front of the establishment.

The officers approached the individual for verification, and an inspection of his bag revealed various stolen items, prompting them to escort him to the Talomo Police Station for further investigation.

At the station, the individual was identified as 17-year-old alias Mark.

He disclosed that he had run away from home after a disagreement with his father. The minor admitted to stealing the recovered items from a watch repair stall located under the Matina Crossing overpass.

Officers confirmed that the stall’s lock had been forcibly broken and its contents were in disarray.

In accordance with juvenile justice protocols, alias Mark was immediately handed over to the station’s Women and Children Protection Desk.

The WCPD coordinated with the City Social Welfare and Development Office for the filing of appropriate charges and the minor’s turnover to Bahay Pag-asa for rehabilitation. Meanwhile, police took custody of the recovered items.

“This incident highlights the importance of our officers’ vigilance and immediate response to any suspicious activity,” said Oriel. “Their alertness not only prevented further criminal activity but also ensured the welfare of the minor involved was properly safeguarded. We remain firm in our commitment to enforce the law with compassion and fairness, especially when it involves our youth.”

Meanwhile, the Talomo Police Station is intensifying curfew enforcement between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The Talomo Police Station urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their children to prevent them from becoming vulnerable to risky situations.

October 12, 2025 0 comments