Lim orders probe into abuse of 4 minor wards at Boys’ Town

By Pat C. Santos

12/01/2008

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has directed the city’s legal department to investigate and file criminal and administrative charges against an ambulance driver who sexually abused four minor wards of the Manila Boys’ Town (MBT) in Marikina City.

City legal officer Renato de la Cruz said the mayor was visibly irked by the report about the alleged abuse, saying drastic action must be taken to put an end to such incidents at the MBT.

“We will not allow anything of this nature to happen in Boys’ Town. It has been our advocacy to provide quality public service that will benefit our constituents and nothing less,” the mayor said.

There were reports during the previous administration there were abuses and misuse of funds committed at the MBT and Lim warned he would relieve anyone found to be involved in any irregularity or anomaly.

The mayor issued a directive to separate the care center’s female wards from the male, emphasizing there should be no lesbians and homosexuals among the employees working there.

But despite the negative reports, Lim rated the MBT’s operations as fairly well even as he said the MBT as an institution has been helping juveniles, especially those coming from poor families, to learn good values and later assimilate more easily to mainstream society.

He is set to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) under retired Gen. Eduardo Aglipay for the rehabilitation of the MBT this coming January.

Under the MoA, conference and workshop rooms will also be provided to make the MBT complex a venue for holding seminars and workshops for the city and other users.

Located in Parang, Marikina City, the MBT was established in 1947 as a residential care center for Manila’s underprivileged male children, aged 8 to 16.

Aside from Boys Home, the present Town includes Girls Home for female juveniles aged three to 16, Home for the Aged for homeless, abandoned and neglected elderly people aged 60 and above and Foundling Home for younger boys aged three to seven.

Boys Town currently has more than 500 wards, with the Home for the Aged comprising the biggest number of residents at 236.

This is followed by Boys Home, with close to 150 wards. Male and female wards are allowed to stay at the complex until they finish high school.

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