Smorgasbord
Liway C. Manantan-Yparraguirre

In one of our conversations with Supt. Edgar O. Basbas, Dagupan City police chief, he expressed concern on the rising incidents of juvenile delinquency in the city.

Three minors were apprehended early this month for driving in wee hours a tricycle with no plate number. It was loaded with stolen items from a sari-sari store in barangay Pantal.

Reports also reached the city police station and the Dagupan City Water District that children were being used by adults to steal water meters. From afar, it would look like the child is just playing but in reality he is already tinkering with the water meter. An adult soon comes to finish the job started by the child. Within minutes, the water meter is gone.

A 14-year old boy poked a gun at his playmate who was teasing him. Apparently, the boy brought with him his father’s gun when he went out of the house.

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Last February 2, 2006, we (this writer, Susan V. Yadao, Eva Visperas, Yolly S. Fuertes and Violy V. Ferrer) dropped-by at this center located in barangay Karayungan in Agoo, La Union.

It was not a planned trip, we didn’t event know this center existed. We were to cover the 15th PNP Anniversary Celebration of Police Regional Office 1 (PRO-1).

As suggested by Col. Basbas, we hitched with his policemen who turned over a young law offender to the center.

The center is located in a sprawling compound. The wards or juvenile delinquents housed there would appear like they were just on vacation. The center has a nurse, social workers and roving psychologists.

There were 65 minors committed (including the new arrival from Dagupan) at the center when we visited. Center chief Athena Jacutan said being committed here are youth offenders aged 18 years old and below all with suspended cases. The transfer from the police custody to the center is covered by a court order.

The youngest, a 10-year old boy, is charged for murder and theft. We were shocked by his answer when we asked him why he stabbed his friend. Without batting an eyelash and without a tinge of remorse, he said “mayabang kasi sya!”

Mrs. Jacutan said visitation is scheduled (and they are strongly encouraging parents or relatives to come and visit to children to enhance the psychological rehabilitation of the child).

The children do homelife activities like gardening, marketing, they help in the kitchen, cleaning inside and out of their dormitories. They also have spiritual activities. During rainy season, they plant palay.

They also have informal class (accredited by the Department of Education). Those with school records (and can already be trusted to go out of the center) are enrolled in elementary or secondary schools near the center. They are also given in-house skills training in cooperation with TESDA.

It really pains me seeing children not enjoying their pagiging bata; who are forced to play an adult’s game because of poverty or insensitivity of family.