В Сикеге число детей, вовлеченных в дела о наркотиках, выросло на 34%

CEBU CITY – Most children in conflict with the law (CICL) cases in Cebu involved drug-related cases, police reported. Police Lt. Ritchil Tesoro, chief of the Women and Children’s Protection Desk of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, said that the number of CICL in Cebu province slightly declined with the majority of cases involving drug cases. During the Hisgutan Ta media forum on Thursday, July 16, Tesoro said 105 CICL cases were recorded from Jan. 1 to July 13, 2026, down 2.78 percent from 108 cases during the same period in 2025. Violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act remained the most common offenses, increasing by 34.09 percent from 39 cases in 2025 to 54 cases this year. Possession, sale, and other drug-related offenses accounted for more than half of all recorded CICL cases. Robbery cases increased from five to seven, while rape cases declined from 12 to seven. Homicide cases dropped from five to three, and murder cases fell from four to two. Most of the children involved were aged 15 to 17. Seventeen-year-olds accounted for the largest group with 35 cases, followed by 16-year-olds with 34, and 15-year-olds with 25. Only two cases involved children aged seven and 11. Males comprised the overwhelming majority of CICL cases, with 99 of the 105 recorded this year. Females accounted for six cases. CICL cases have been in the spotlight since the recent Tacloban school shooting which was committed by minors. Tesoro said bullying and the influence of social media were among the factors contributing to these incidents. She advised parents to closely monitor their children’s behavior, friendships, and online activities. “Many children today spend considerable time on social media, online games, and other digital platforms, where they may be exposed to violent content or harmful influences. Parents should also watch for warning signs such as repeated threats, aggression, bullying, bringing of weapons, an unhealthy fixation on violence or revenge, sudden behavioral changes, or social withdrawal,” Tesoro said. “While these signs do not necessarily mean a child will become violent, they should not be ignored. If these are observed, parents should speak with their child, closely supervise their activities, coordinate with school officials when necessary, and seek guidance from counselors or mental health professionals,” Tesoro added. Tesoro said the CPPO continues to implement programs aimed at preventing youth crime and protecting children. These include Oplan Bisita Eskwela (BES), which brings police officers to schools for safety lectures and community engagement; Pito Laban sa Abuso, which promotes the use of whistles to help children and victims of abuse quickly seek police assistance; the A.N.A.K. Program of the Danao City Component Police Station, which provides support services for street children; and Project HUG of the Carcar City Component Police Station, which distributes donated toys, clothing, and educational materials to help build trust between children and police officers. Other interventions include house-to-house visits, barangay dialogues, child awareness campaigns, responsible parenting seminars, and case conferences. The province also has 30 local government-operated holding facilities for CICL, along with rehabilitation centers managed by partner institutions.