Urges PDEA to help send the minors to Bahay Pag-Asa instead
(Eagle News) — Senator Leila de Lima on Friday, Jan. 18, slammed what she said was the parading of minors before the media so authorities could “brag about their presumed accomplishments and earn ‘brownie points.'”
De Lima made the statement after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency nabbed 28 suspected drug offenders, including 12 minors from four to 15 years old, in Navotas on Jan. 16.
According to De Lima, the PDEA agents “paraded” the minors to the media for “photo-ops.”
“No individual, much less minors, should be subjected to degrading treatment by the authorities. Children in conflict with the law must still be treated in a way that is consistent with the promotion of their sense of dignity and worth,” she said.
De Lima said the authorities should have instead recommended the sending of the minors to Bahay Pag-Asa, as this would “allow them to rebuild their lives and teach them the value of following the law..”
As for media practitioners, she said they should “be critical about the content that they publish, especially involving children, to avoid subjecting individuals to inappropriate and sensationalized publicity.”
“Responsible parents are expected to watch out for their children’s actions to ensure full protection of these kids’ rights to survival, protection, development,” she added.
