POLICE arrive at the Operation Second Chance in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City after a group of children in conflict with the law (CICL) escaped on Wednesday morning, Sept. 3. (Contributed photo)
CEBU CITY – A group of minors escaped from a facility that houses children in conflict with the law (CICL) in Barangay Kalunasan here on Wednesday morning, Sept. 3.
Police said 13 CICL escaped from the Cebu City-run Operation Second Chance but 12 of them were immediately recaptured. The incident happened at 6:45 a.m.
Investigation showed that the CICL found a chance to escape after a garbage truck entered the facility.
“The gate was opened when the garbage truck was about to leave. The children then rushed to the gate and escaped,” said Councilor Jonathan Tumulak, who rushed to the facility after learning about the incident.
The Guadalupe Police Station and Special Weapons and Tactics of the Cebu City Police Office immediately conducted a search and rescue operation and were able to bring the 12 CICLs back to the facility.
Operations to find the other minors aged 12 were still in progress as of posting time.
Tumulak said some of the CICL sustained bruises after they jumped from the fence of the facility.
Because of the incident, Ceferino Tabay, the facility’s executive director, has been ordered to revise the garbage disposal system to prevent another escape.
Mayor Nestor Archival ordered the deployment of additional security personnel in the facility.