An aunt of a child in conflict with the law (CICL) who raised incidents of alleged bullying in a youth detention home said that other CICLs have similar experiences.

Alias “Nene,” the aunt of a resident of “Balay Dalayunan” in Barrio Obrero, District of Lapuz, Iloilo City, disclosed of bullying incidents in September 2024 with her 17-year-old nephew as victim.

The incident was repeated on November 3, 2024, she said.

“Hindi lang yan sa pamangkin ko nangyari. Marami ring kabataan na sinasaktan. Hindi lang sila nag-vo-voice out. Ang ikinatatakot ko is, baka muli na naman itong mangyari sa pamangkin ko,” the aunt said in an interview over GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas. 

Rufel Valdeviezo, center head of “Balay Dalayunan: Home for Boys,” a youth detention home for CICLs in Iloilo City needing custody while awaiting disposition of their cases, clarified that on November 3, 2024, the victim had a fight with another CICL that was not involved in the first incident of bullying.

Immediately the five CICLs involved in maltreatment last September 2024 were placed under disciplinary action such as the banning of visitors and prohibiting the watching of television.

The head of the facility confirmed of a bullying incident between a few CICLs in 2023 but the conflict, she pointed out, was already resolved.

“Ang situation namin ngayon, sa adjustment period kami kasi magta-transfer na kami sa bagong place at makikita na it is safe so, maka-guarantee kami na wala na ito (mga insidente),” according to Valdeviezo.

Valdeviezo said that bullying is a tough challenge to deal with in the center; that is why the Local Government Unit of Iloilo City is set to add four more house parents and four new duty guards at the said facility.

“Binabantayan lang nila na once tumalikod lang ang house parent, diyan na sila naglalaro hanggang ang ending, nagkakasakitan na. So, binu-bully na nila ang ibang kasamahan,” Valdeviezo said.

On November 6, 2024, a psychologist had a talk with the 17-year-old victim, as well as with the aunt.