Alarmed by a recent incident involving minors linked to disruptive behavior on a busy Las Piñas roadway, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is moving to strengthen intervention programs aimed at steering at-risk youth away from street crime and toward rehabilitation.
PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police force is intensifying coordination with local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to craft community-based solutions that address the root causes of juvenile delinquency. These measures are expected to form part of the broader “Safer Cities” initiative, particularly in densely populated urban areas.
“We treat this matter in a manner that will guide these minors in determining what is right from wrong, not in a manner that treats them as criminals through law enforcement alone,” Nartatez said, emphasizing a more rehabilitative than punitive approach.
The renewed push follows a viral video showing minors allegedly attempting to board vehicles and harass passengers along Alabang–Zapote Road in Barangay Almanza Uno, Las Piñas City on May 2. One of the youths was reportedly carrying an improvised weapon, raising concerns about public safety.
Police from the local station responded and located eight minors involved in the incident. They were turned over to barangay authorities and later referred to the DSWD in accordance with child protection protocols.
Initial findings indicated that the situation stemmed from a misunderstanding after a jeepney driver refused to take in passengers. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported and no property damage occurred.
Nartatez has since directed police commanders nationwide to initiate dialogue with LGUs and social welfare agencies to prevent similar incidents from happening again. He also underscored the importance of involving parents in intervention efforts, noting that repeated behavioral issues often trace back to gaps in supervision at home.
“Discipline begins at home and when minors cross the line in public, accountability doesn’t end with them—it extends to the guidance that failed to stop it,” he said.
The PNP maintained that addressing youth involvement in street incidents requires a balanced approach, one that safeguards public order while giving minors a chance to be redirected before they fall deeper into criminal activity.