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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Metro Manila devider Teen protesters not legally liable but will undergo intervention - MDSW

Teen protesters not legally liable but will undergo intervention - MDSW

Published Sep 25, 2025 10:36 am
Unidentified individuals with covered faces stood in front of a line of policemen on Ayala Bridge, holding flags and demanding to march to Mendiola on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Manila Public Information Office)
Unidentified individuals with covered faces stood in front of a line of policemen on Ayala Bridge, holding flags and demanding to march to Mendiola on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Manila Public Information Office)
Protesters under 15 years old who were caught during the violent demonstration in Manila on Sept. 21 are not criminally liable but they are still subject to government intervention, according to the Manila Department of Social Welfare (MDSW) 
More than 20 protesters, 14 years old and below, classified as Children at Risk (CAR), and around 60 of them 15 to 17 years old, known as Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), were among those taken into custody following the incident.
The CAR will undergo intervention programs focused on rehabilitation and proper guidance which will include active participation from their parents or guardians.
The MDSW said these programs aim to ensure that the children are guided back to a better path, noting that the intervention process is "a preventive, not punitive," measure.
The MDSW assured the public that both CAR and CICL are currently under safe and proper care through the combined efforts of the MDSW, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Manila Police Department (MPD).
MPD Public Information Officer Police Major Philipp Ines clarified that minors apprehended during the protest were not detained alongside adult suspects.
Instead, they were processed in the MPD multi-purpose hall where they were supervised by trained personnel.
Maj. Ines also confirmed that the children were provided with adequate food and attended to by social workers, medical staff, and human rights representatives throughout the process.
The minors, 14 years old and below,  will be turned over to the MDSW following medical and welfare checks where they will be enrolled in appropriate intervention programs.
The CICL, on the other hand, are currently undergoing inquest proceedings, after which they will also be turned over to the Manila Recreation Action Center under MDSW.
Ines emphasized that all actions taken by the MPD were within legal bounds and were carried out with full respect for human rights.
The MDSW and MPD appealed to the parents and guardians of the minors to be more present and involved in their children’s lives.

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