CEBU CITY – At least 30 children in conflict with the law (CICL) escaped from the Operation Second Chance (OSC) in Barangay Kalunasan on Wednesday morning, May 3.
THE facade of the Operation Second Chance in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City where at least 30 children in conflict with the law escaped on Wednesday morning, May 3. (Contributed photo)
The jailbreak happened at around 6 a.m. Operations to locate the CICLs were immediately launched. As of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, only three CICLs have yet to be returned to the facility. With the incident, Mayor Michael Rama ordered the relief of all personnel assigned at the facility. Rama appointed City Administrator Collin Rosell and Councilor Philip Zafra to head the operation of the facility. The mayor also asked the Cebu City Police Office to help the city government oversee the OSC to prevent jailbreaks from happening again. "I already directed Atty. Rosell, Councilor Zafra, and also, the Philippine National Police will have to come in. I cannot let this happen again,” Rama said. The council’s Committee on Public Order has also directed the City Hall’s Department of Social Welfare and Services to come up with recommendations that would improve the facility’s security measures. “Hopefully in that aspect, we can help ensure that incidents of children escaping from the facility will no longer happen,” Zafra said. It was the second time that a jailbreak occurred at the facility this year. Last January, at least 17 CICLs bolted but were immediately tracked down and brought back to the facility.
THE facade of the Operation Second Chance in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City where at least 30 children in conflict with the law escaped on Wednesday morning, May 3. (Contributed photo)
The jailbreak happened at around 6 a.m. Operations to locate the CICLs were immediately launched. As of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, only three CICLs have yet to be returned to the facility. With the incident, Mayor Michael Rama ordered the relief of all personnel assigned at the facility. Rama appointed City Administrator Collin Rosell and Councilor Philip Zafra to head the operation of the facility. The mayor also asked the Cebu City Police Office to help the city government oversee the OSC to prevent jailbreaks from happening again. "I already directed Atty. Rosell, Councilor Zafra, and also, the Philippine National Police will have to come in. I cannot let this happen again,” Rama said. The council’s Committee on Public Order has also directed the City Hall’s Department of Social Welfare and Services to come up with recommendations that would improve the facility’s security measures. “Hopefully in that aspect, we can help ensure that incidents of children escaping from the facility will no longer happen,” Zafra said. It was the second time that a jailbreak occurred at the facility this year. Last January, at least 17 CICLs bolted but were immediately tracked down and brought back to the facility.