By MA. THERESA LADIAO
ILOILO City – The number of children at risk in this city has soared by 160 percent to nearly 1,600 cases in the first 10 months of 2026, alongside sharp increases in juvenile offenses and violence against children, raising serious concerns over the growing vulnerability of minors.
Data from the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) showed that Children at Risk (CAR) cases jumped from 615 in January to October 2025 to 1,596 during the same period this year — an increase of 981 cases.
Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) cases likewise surged by 150 percent, from 16 to 40, while reported Violence Against Children (VAC) incidents more than doubled from eight to 17.
Cases involving violations of Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, also rose from 93 to 96.
Police Lieutenant Ruth T. Laudato, officer-in-charge of the ICPO Women and Children Protection Desk, cautioned that the increases do not necessarily mean child abuse and exploitation have worsened at the same rate.
“We want to be careful: these numbers show cases that reached us. Part of the rise may be because more people are reporting and our teams are reaching more children,” Laudato said during a Nov. 9 press conference.
“Advocacy also builds the courage to report. When our advocacy reaches barangays, schools and families, people learn to recognize abuse and learn where to report,” she added.
Nevertheless, the figures underscore the urgent need to strengthen child protection, early intervention and community-based prevention programs.
More cases filed
The number of formally filed cases increased by 64 percent, from 22 to 36 during the comparable 10-month periods.
Filed VAC cases more than tripled from five to 17, while CICL cases rose from four to seven. Cases filed under RA 7610, however, declined slightly from 13 to 12.
Laudato attributed the increase in filed complaints partly to heightened public awareness and stronger coordination among child protection agencies.
“A victim who attends an information drive, or hears a story in the media, learns she or he is not alone and that the police will act,” she said.
82 barangays flagged
Meanwhile, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) identified 82 barangays with high numbers of children-at-risk and juvenile offender cases.
Based on its third-quarter 2026 assessment, the city recorded 247 CAR cases and 132 CICL cases.
City Proper had the highest concentration of affected barangays at 14, followed by Mandurriao and Molo with 13 each.
Jaro I, Jaro II and La Paz recorded 10 barangays each, while Arevalo and Lapuz had eight each.
CSWDO assistant head Merlyn E. Gizon said interventions must prioritize communities with higher concentrations of vulnerable children.
“The figures highlight the need to strengthen child protection programs, early intervention, community-based prevention measures, and rehabilitation initiatives, particularly in districts with higher concentrations of cases,” Gizon said.
The assessment showed that 85 percent of children in conflict with the law were male adolescents aged 14 to 17, while 62 percent of CICL cases were resolved through the Diversion Committee or Katarungang Pambarangay.
Property-related offenses, particularly theft and robbery, accounted for 38 percent of recorded offenses, followed by curfew violations, truancy and other status offenses at 27 percent.
Physical injury and assault represented 18 percent, substance- and drug-related exposure 13 percent, and cyber-related harms, including online sexual exploitation, four percent.
Gizon identified poverty, family conflicts, inadequate parental guidance, school disengagement and exposure to illegal activities as contributing factors.
She warned that financial hardship could push out-of-school youth toward property offenses, while repeated truancy and curfew violations could signal deeper problems requiring immediate intervention.
Prevention efforts
Despite the rising number of reported cases, ICPO’s advocacy and intervention activities declined by approximately nine percent, from 1,490 in 2025 to 1,360 in 2026.
Barangay-level community dialogues, however, nearly doubled from 169 to 313.
“Our community-level pulong-pulong almost doubled, from 169 to 313, and in the same period reported cases climbed,” Laudato said.
“When we go to the barangay, people talk. Awareness leads to reporting, and reporting leads to intervention and filing of cases,” she added.
Police and social welfare officials urged stronger cooperation among barangays, schools, parents and government agencies to address the underlying causes of juvenile vulnerability and prevent children from becoming victims of abuse, exploitation and criminal activities.
They stressed that effective child protection requires not only responding to reported incidents but also identifying early warning signs, strengthening family support and ensuring timely rehabilitation and intervention./PN
