September 17, 2005

Hon. Simeon Datumanong

Chairperson, Committee on Justice

Rm. RVM-421, House of Representatives
Constitution Hills, Quezon City
1126 Philippines

 Dear Hon. Congressman Datumanong:

             On behalf of the Filipino-Americans in the U.S., our families in the Philippines, and Overseas Foreign Workers residing abroad, we are seeking your support in our global effort to address the urgent issues concerning Philippine Children in Prison and the gross violation of human rights.

            As reported by CNN/ITN this past August, thousands of children could be potential victims of abuse, sodomy and rape by being detained with adult criminals in subhuman conditions.  A petition to Save the Philippine Children in Prison was launched in response to this very disturbing report, and was signed by more than 5,800 petitioners. The Philippine President has also been advised of our global initiatives and recommendations to help resolve the issue.   

            We would very much appreciate your help in addressing our global concern, specifically by supporting the immediate passage, enforcement and funding of the Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Bill S. B. No. 2645 that seeks to establish a Comprehensive Juvenile Justice system and Delinquency Prevention Program, creating the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention under the Department of Justice, and appropriating funds for these purposes.  

We have just received news that Malacañang is launching a special task force to transfer thousands of child offenders out of adult jails; that the justice, social welfare, and interior departments would make up the task force to ensure that children being held in jail were transferred to rehabilitation centers; and that the social welfare department was also setting up a foster family system for the children (http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=1&story_id=50497).

While this is encouraging, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita also stated that “a lack of funds has sometimes prevented the social welfare office and the justice department from immediately attending to all children who are arrested, resulting in their being jailed alongside adult criminals”  Without adequate funding, it is doubtful that such initiatives as announced  by Malacañang  can be successfully implemented. It is therefore incumbent upon Congress to ensure that the social welfare office and the justice department receive appropriate funding to successfully carry out all the work that is necessary to protect these children.

 There are un-used government land and buildings that can be converted to children's homes where the court can send them, instead of being in jail with pedophiles and criminals. PREDA, a very reputable and well respected organization that serves CICL has submitted a request for the use of the buildings at San Nicolas, Castillejos, Zambales for conversion into a children's home, including a small piece of unused land reaching to the river at San Nicolas for use as organic farm to help feed the children.  Please urge Governor Vic P. Magsaysay to approve that these buildings , which were paid for by various donors including World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the U.S. Development funds of the Mt. Pinatubo Commission for a home and livelihood training,  be turned over to PREDA, for the sake of the children.

We would also very much appreciate if you could further extend your help by urging President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to issue an Executive Order that strengthens and applies restorative justice principles (embodied in the 2002 Rule on Juveniles in Conflict with the Law issued by the Philippine Supreme Court) by directing law enforcers to turn children over to the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or the BJMP upon arrest, instead of locking them up in police jails, while waiting for a court order. 

We hope that you will consider our urgent request for support and immediate action in protecting the children from further prison abuse.     

                                                                                    Sincerely, 

                                                                                           NANAY Philippine Committee

                                                                                              On behalf of Global Filipinos

Contact Information 

Telephone 305-981-3232

FAX 305-981-3231

Postal address

659 N.E. 125 Street, North Miami, Florida 33161

Electronic mail:  joybruce@aol.com   elsabayani2003@yahoo.com