Students behind Tacloban shooting being monitored by social workers, police

The two teenage students who were behind the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City are being closely monitored by social workers and police, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Sunday.

"'Yung dalawang children in conflict with the law (CICLs) ay nasa kustodiya ng DSWD, particularly nasa Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY). Sila ay binabantayan ng ating mga social worker. Merong mga house parents na assigned para sa kanilang dalawa," DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(The two children in conflict with the law are under the custody of the DSWD, particularly the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth. They are being monitored by our social workers. There are house parents assigned to the two.)

Dumlao said the two students have not seen each other at the center and remain in their separate rooms since they were brought to RRCY.

"Hindi sila nagkikita. Separate rooms sila. 'Yung rooms nila, may sariling ceiling fan 'yan, may sariling banyo, so hindi sila nakakahalubilo sa iba pang residents natin sa RRCY," she added.

(They do not see each other. They are in separate rooms. Each of their rooms has a ceiling fan and restroom so they do not meet the other residents of RRCY.)

"And then merong center nurse na tumitingin din sa kanila. And meron ding naka-deploy na mga pulis doon sa labas ng kanilang room to ensure 'yung seguridad din doon sa lugar," Dumlao said.

(And then there is a center nurse who monitor them. And there are policemen deployed outside their rooms to ensure the security of the place.)

The two CICLs were turned over to authorities after they were identified as those behind the shooting incident at San Jose National High School. Three students died while 20 others were hurt.

Dumlao said social workers are monitoring and are trying to establish rapport with the CICLs in order to get more information and come up with an assessment.

"Ina-assess sila ng ating mga social worker. So nakabantay tayo doon sa kanila. And we continue to work with the other members of the RJJWC (Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee) para sa intervention plan para sa kanila," Dumlao said.

(They are being assessed by social workers. So we are monitoring them. And we continue to work with the other members of the RJJWC for their intervention plan.)

"Sa umaga, may oras ng pagdala ng pagkain para sa kanila kasi hindi pa sila pwedeng ihalo sa ibang CICLs kaya hindi pa sila pwedeng magkaroon ng mga activities with them. Kaya ang house parents natin nakatutok," she said.

(In the morning, there is a schedule for the delivery of their food because they cannot be brought out to meet other CICLs yet and have activities with them. That's why the house parents are focusing on them.)

Dumlao said there is also a set time for social workers to meet the CICLs and talk with them.

"Hindi mabilisan o continuous 'yung pag-disclose ng impormasyon mula doon sa ating CICLs, lalo na doon sa mga iba pa na naapektuhan. Kaya sa mga social workers, may tinatawag na establishing rapport. Ito muna ang unang ginagawa," she said.

(It is not easy for CICLs to divulge information, especially those who were affected. So for social workers, there is what we call establishing rapport. That is the first thing being done.)

"Magkakakilanlan muna sila. Kumbaga sa pagkakaibigan, getting to know each other. Nagkakamustuhan," she added.

(They are getting to know each other, asking each other how they are.)

"Halimbawa, handa na po, komportable na 'yung CICL na makipag-usap doon sa social worker, that's the time na nag-uumpisa na talaga 'yung data, information gathering, 'yung paggamit ng iba pang mga tools, 'yung sinasabi nating mga listening tools," Dumlao said.

(Then for instance, if the CICL is already comfortable talking with the social worker, that's the time the data and information gathering starts, with the use of listening tools.)

The DSWD spokesperson said it is important that the social workers earn the trust of the CICLs so they could open up and talk.

Dumlao said authorities were able to talk to the parents and relatives of the two CICLs and they signed a document saying they are voluntary committing the two to RRCY.

For now, the two CICLs are not yet allowed to have visitors, not even their families.

"Hindi pa muna sila pwedeng kausapin. Hindi pa pwedeng bisitahin. May mga restrictions dito sa mga CICL," Dumlao said.

(You cannot talk to them. They cannot be visited yet. There are restrictions for CICLs.)

Victims

As for the victims, the DSWD immediately deployed social workers to provide psychosocial first aid to the victims.

"Yung unang-una nating ginawa sa pamamagitan ng ating mga field office personnel natin, agad tayo na nag-deploy ng social workers na nagsagawa ng psychosocial first aid [sa mga biktima]. Napakahalaga kasi nito na agad makapag-conduct tayo ng incident debriefing, trauma counseling," Dumlao said.

(The very first thing we did through our field office personnel is to deploy social workers to conduct psychosocial first aid. It is very important to immediately conduct insident debriefing and trauma counseling.)

"Hindi talaga madali 'yung pinagdaanan nila, 'yung na-witness nila, lalong-lalo na sa mga pamilya na namatay 'yung kanilang mga anak. At 'yung iba nga ay nasa ospital pa," she said.

(What they went through, what they witnessed is not easy to process, especially for families who lost their children. Some are still in the hospital.)

Dumlao said the DSWD is very much saddened by the incident and is committed to help the survivors.

"Talagang nalulungkot kami, nalulungkot ang DSWD kaya committed din kami na tulungan sila, hindi lamang sa pamamagitan ng tulong pinansiyal. Sabi nga ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian when he went to Tacloban, 'wag na nilang isipin yung gastusin sa pagpapalibing, gastusin sa pagpapagamot sa ospital sapagkat sasagutin na 'yan ng DSWD," she said.

(We are really sad, the DSWD is saddened by the incident so we are committed to help them, not just in terms of financial matters. Secretary Rex Gatchalian, when he went to Tacloban, told them not to think of the expenses for burial and treatment in the hospital because the DSWD will take care of those.)

"Pero more than that, napakahalaga yung nandun tayo, yung presence ng ating mga social workers kasi kinakailangan na may makinig sa kanila, may makinig sa kanilang mga saloobin. Alam natin na napakahirap nitong pinagdadaanan nila. Mahalaga 'yung nandun tayo sa tabi nila para sa kung ano mang pangangailangan nila," she added.

(But more than that, it is very important that we are there, the presence of our social workers because they need someone to listen to them. We know how hard this all is. It is important that we are there beside them and help them in whatever way.)

"And of course yung nabanggit ko yung psychosocial interventions, napakahalaga nito, yung pagsuporta natin sa kanilang mental well-being at 'yung pag-assure na nandun tayo hanggang sa tuluyan nilang paghilom mula sa insidenteng ito," Dumlao said.

(And of course, what I mentioned earlier, the psychosocial interventions, these are very important for their mental well-being. We need to assure them that we are there until they heal from the trauma brought by this incident.)

Age of criminal liability

On lowering the age of criminal liability, the DSWD is open to discussion, Dumlao said.

"Sa DSWD naniniwala kami na ito ay isang legislative process. Kami naman kung halimbawang ipatawag kami, nandiyan kami, makikinig kami. We're open to discussion. We're open to discourses regarding the proposed amendments on the JJWA," she said.

(The DSWD believes this is a legislative process. For instance, if they call us, we are there and we will listen.)

"Mahalaga dito, maisusumite namin kung ano yung mga naging experiences ng DSWD, yung mga accomplishments sa mga local government units ng DSWD in terms of provision of technical assistance especially in the establishment of Bahay Pag-asa," Dumlao said.

(What's important here is that we can submit to them the experiences of DSWD, our accomplishments with local government units in terms of provision of technical assistance especially in the establishment of Bahay Pag-asa.)

"Mahalagi din na maibahagi din ng DSWD 'yung experiences namin doon naman sa pagpapalakas ng family relations, pag-strengthen ng pag-perform ng parental responsibilities ng ating mga magulang sa pamamagitan ng ating Parenting Effectiveness Service at sa family development sessions ng 4Ps program kung saan may mga modules din tayo na nagpapatibay ng responsible parenthood," she added.

(It is important also for the DSWD to share our experiences in strengthening family relations, strengthening the performance of parental responsibilities of the parents through Parenting Effectiveness Service and family development sessions of the 4Ps program. We had modules there for responsible parenthood.)

Bahay Pag-asa

Dumlao said CICLs between 12 to 15 are exempt from criminal liability under the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act (JJWA), but that does not mean they will be left alone.

"Batay dun sa Juvenile Justice Welfare Act, kung ang edad ng CICL ay between 12 to 15 ay exempt yan from criminal liability. Pero hindi nangangahulugan na wala tayong gagawin dun sa mga CICL. Dadalhin sila sa Bahay Pag-asa," she said.

(Based on the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act, if the CICL is between 12 to 15 years old, he or she is exempt from criminal liability. But that does nto mean we will not do anything anymore with the CICL. He or she will be brought to Bahay Pag-asa.)

"Yung mga Bahay Pag-asa, these are LGU-run centers para sa pag-pursue natin ng restorative justice para sa mga individual, mga minor, mga CICL na nagkaroon ng conflict with the law or in other words nag-commit ng mga krimen," Dumlao added.

(The Bahay Pag-asa are LGU-run centers wherein restorative justice is pursued for individuals, minors, and CICLs, those who committed crimes.)

"Dito sa Bahay Pag-asa gagawin yung intervention plan nang sa gayon ma-reform natin 'yung bata, mag-provide tayo ng mga intervention na huhubog at magbabago doon sa behavior ng bata para eventually maging contributing member siya ng ating society, again in the pursuit of restorative justice," she said.

(It is here at Bahay Pag-asa where the intervention plan is implemented in order to reform the child. The goal is to mold and change the child's behavior so eventually he or she can be a contributing member to society.)

At present, there are more than 117 operational Bahay Pag-asa nationwide, Dumlao said, citing figures from JJWC. —KG, GMA News