Child abuse in jails

THE front page of a widely circulated tabloid said it all in just one message in extra large bold letters: “Kids made to perform sex acts in detention.” Sensational indeed but true, very shockingly true. That is just one of the many violations that children as young as 8 years old suffer in government-run and even badly supervised private shelters in the Philippines. This is the truth and reality that was being covered up and denied during the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines last 15 January to 19.

We know it is true and real because at the Preda Foundation the community and social workers rescued many of them in the past years and months. The week before the Pope’s visit 6 more minors were rescued by Preda and this writer including an 8 year old street child.