SPEED UP CASES OF DETAINED MINORS
Most of the boys detained in Operation Second Chance in Cebu City come from another town or city.
To get their cases resolved quickly, other local governments should help with services like transportation to hearings and social workers to prepare their cases, so the youths can be released or referred to another facility.
Councilor Margot Osmeña, a member of the Operation Second Chance board, said a mother went to her office yesterday to seek help for her 19-year-old son.
“Sometimes they (the family) cannot go to the hearing of their cases because there is no available vehicle for their use or there is no social worker to assist them,” said Osmeña.
The center is staffed by 10 to 12 house parents and two social workers form the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS). It has only one service vehicle to transport detainees to their court hearings.
“If the hearings are scheduled on the same day, we give priority to the city residents,” the councilor said.
About 90 of the 171 youth offenders in the facility come from outside Cebu City.
Judge Olegario Sarmiento wrote executive judges and mayors of the cities of Mandaue, Lapu Lapu, Danao and Toledo and the towns of Barili and Cordova to provide vehicles for the hearing of their cases.
Osmeña said the board talked to DSWD officials to provide social workers. The center also accepts minor offenders from other LGUs.
While the facility is built for 200 residents, Osmeña said they want to hasten the hearings of 52 detainees above 18 years old.
As a policy, those aged 21 years old are transferred to the city jail. Others aged above 18 years old who are on the final phase of their rehabilitation are allowed to stay. Osmeña said the board agreed to revisit the manual for any amendments.
Osmeña said the contracts of three house parents that expire on March 31 are up for renewal.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is on an official trip to Yokohama, Japan. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac
NO FIRE SALE FOR SRP—MARGOT
Until the court resolves a dispute over the auction of part of the South Road Properties (SRP), Councilor Margot Osmeña said it would be difficult for the Cebu city government to invite new buyers.
“When there is a case pending and you are an investor, you would want to look first what will happen next. You would be careful,” she said.
Osmeña said major developer Filinvest wasn’t spared from the city’s legal battle with the Ralloses. Still, she said the City Council isn’t opposed to a new lot sale.
Her husband, Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district, said they want to wait for the SM development project at the SRP to be completed before inviting new buyers.
“The council never said that we will oppose new lot sales. It was just the mayor who said it,” said Margot.
She said any new lot sales would have to get council approval and undergo bidding.
Councilor Osmeña said it took about three years to negotiate the lot sales to Filinvest and SM Prime Holdings.
“You don’t just go on a fire sale because you cannot compromise,” she said.
A copy of the letter of Tristan las Marias, FLI vice president, who said his firm was holding off payment of its installment payment for its SRP lot purchase this year, was sent to the council.
Melinda Navasquez, the mayor’s secretary, also gave the council a copy of the letter of Regional Director Delfin Aguilar of the Commission on Audit (COA) on the agency’s position on the garnishment of funds of the city.
RTC judge James Stewart Ramon Himalaloan has directed the Philippine Veterans Bank and the Philippine Postal Bank to release the account number of the city’s bank deposits with their banks.
Upon receipt of the numbers, the council is also ordered to pass a budget ordinance to appropriate funds to pay the P133 million money jugment in favor of the Rallos heirs. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac