2021 National Human Rights Situation Report
71
strict border protocols imposed by LGUs all of which hinder the immediate transfer of the
CICLs to youth facilities.269
299
The following are data gathered from virtual visits to Bahay Pag-asa of the Regional
Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (RJJWC) which includes CHR Regional Office IVCALABARZON:270
a
Basic needs of the residents were provided by the facility/center. Also, the parents of
the CICLs are allowed to give them (CICLs) food.
b
Visitation: CICLs are only allowed to talk to their parents at a distance. Parents/
relatives usually stayed in the designated gate/fence area while talking to the CICLs
inside the center/ facility. Majority of the facilities interviewed have scheduled phone/
video calls to the families of their residents except for the center in Binangonan Rizal
which do not have phone/ video calls since there was no assigned phone for the
resident CICLs.
c
Education: Most of the other facilities interviewed have either ALS or regular
schooling thru modular scheme, except two:
•
Bahay Kalinga Imus have no regular education for CICLs but they already
coordinated with DepEd on its ALS program for the resident CICLs. In the
meantime, their house parents teach them during their free time.
•
Binangonan Youth Care also has no program yet for education of the CICLs.
d
Hearing: Due to the pandemic, most of the court hearings are conducted virtually
thru video conference. Unfortunately, the hearings of the CICL are often postponed.
One of their problems with the virtual hearing is the slow internet connection which
results in the resetting of the hearing.
e
Admission to the facility: LGU facilities are stricter in the admission of CICLs. A
swab test/ rapid test is usually required in most of these facilities to ensure that other
residents of the center will not acquire COVID 19. Most of the time, PNP-WCPD
would take the custody of the CICL while waiting for the result of the rapid test.
300
Based on the visits conducted by CHR Regional Office IV-CALABARZON, the number
of CICLs have decreased because of the strict compliance with the IATF guidelines.
However, there are LGUs whose Children At Risk (CAR) have increased because of
violation of the IATF guidelines.271
301
During the eDalaw conducted by RJJWC on 16-18 June 2021 of which the CHR Regional
Office V took part as member, it appears that it takes some time before the minor is
transferred to a youth facility which imposes that he stays in jail facilities for a period of
time in spite of the law stating that no minor shall be put in prison.272
302
While the expansion and accessibility of the internet provide information and learning
opportunities for children, this likewise poses protection threats to children online. The
269
Commission on Human Rights Regional Office I. (2021, July). Regional HR Situation Report ( January to June 2021).
270
Commission on Human Rights Regional Office IV-CALABARZON. (2021, July). Report on the Human Rights
Situation of Disadvantaged, Marginalized and Vulnerable Sectors in CALABARZON ( January to June 2021).
271
Commission on Human Rights Regional Office IV-CALABARZON. (2021, July). Report on the Human Rights
Situation of Disadvantaged, Marginalized and Vulnerable Sectors in CALABARZON ( January to June 2021).
272
Commission on Human Rights Regional Office V. (2021, July). Human Rights Situationer of PDL (with Special Focus
on CAR and CICL).