IN THE FIRST two months of 2025 alone, Iloilo City recorded 11 cases of children in conflict with the law (CICL), adding to the 149 cases reported last year. These offenses range from physical injuries and theft to more alarming incidents such as a group of minors staging a holdup at the Iloilo Esplanade, a stabbing incident outside a high school in Molo district, and acts of vandalism at the newly opened Iloilo Sunset Boulevard.
Beyond being a law enforcement matter, the surge in juvenile crimes indicates social problems that have long been neglected. Those incidents are symptoms of a community that is failing its youth. There are social triggers that make certain youngsters more vulnerable to crime, and one of them is poverty. Many minors who end up in conflict with the law come from struggling households, where basic needs are not met, and survival takes precedence over morality. In some cases, children resort to petty crimes such as theft, not out of malice, but out of necessity. The lack of economic opportunities for their families makes them easy prey for bad influences who promise quick money through illicit means.
Another major contributor is broken families and lack of parental supervision. Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna’s call for stronger parental responsibility is a timely reminder that the home is important in shaping a child’s values. Children who grow up in environments marked by neglect, domestic abuse, or absent parental figures are more likely to seek validation elsewhere — sometimes from the wrong people. If the family fails to provide a sense of belonging, young people may turn to groups that offer them a distorted version of it, often in the form of gang-like peer groups that encourage delinquent behavior.
Peer pressure and social influences also factor in. While the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) denies the existence of organized gangs in the city, recent cases suggest that groups of minors are engaging in coordinated criminal activities. Whether these groups fit the traditional definition of a gang or not, their impact on the community cannot be ignored. Many youths are drawn into crime not because they are inherently bad but because they want to fit in, be accepted, or prove their worth in their social circles.
Beyond these immediate social factors, there are also psychological elements at play. Many CICLs have experienced trauma, whether from physical abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence in their communities. Without proper guidance and intervention, these experiences can shape their worldview, making them more prone to antisocial behavior and criminal activity.
Addressing juvenile delinquency, therefore, must go beyond mere policing. While Mayor Jerry Treñas has ordered intensified security measures in schools and public spaces, this is only a temporary solution. Iloilo City must strengthen its intervention programs to tackle the root causes of youth delinquency. This may include expanding access to educational programs, psychological support, skills training, and community-based mentorship initiatives that provide young people with better alternatives.
Additionally, barangays must take a more active role in monitoring and rehabilitating at-risk youth. After all, many juvenile cases are settled at the barangay level and never make it to official police records, which means the extent of the problem could be far greater than reported. So instead of just mediating these disputes, barangays should work closely with social workers, educators, and law enforcement to implement long-term solutions.
If the Iloilo City Government hopes to curb juvenile delinquency effectively, it must go beyond punishment and policing. Otherwise, it will continue to see more young lives being wasted on the streets, and no amount of security patrols will be enough to stop it.
