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[av_heading heading=’Policemen in Bacolod City ‘solvent hotspots’ sought ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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BACOLOD City – Councilor Em Ang requested the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to assign officers in areas frequented by “Rugby kids.”
Ang believes police visibility in these “hotspots” will lessen the problem on substance abuse.
Street children were often seen sniffing solvent in abandoned buildings at Plazamart, downtown area, lagoon area, public plaza, Central Market, and Lacson Street.
According to Ang, these children were influenced by adults.
Yesterday, the councilor held a public hearing on her proposed ordinance seeking the mandatory posting of information materials about child protection on establishments in the city.
Under the proposal, the BCPO will be mandated to also apprehend adults who influence or tolerate Rugby kids – including their parents – Ang said.
Children under 18 years old are generally spared from criminal liability under Republic Act 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.
When caught, the Rugby kid shall be taken to the City Health Office for medical examination and referred to the city government’s Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) for rehabilitation, Ang said.
Representatives from the City Legal Office, the Women and Children’s Desk, the DSSD, the BCPO, the Permits and Licensing Division, and barangays attended the public hearing./PN
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