DEO dreams of becoming a teacher because he loves to help others.

But instead of staying in school, the 17-year-old lad went astray.

When he was in Grade 2, Deo ran away from home but the reason was not clear.

He learned to live by himself, often finding some means to make ends meet. He became one of the dozens of street children in General Santos City who earned the tag “Batang Tun-og (Children of the Dew).”

Like other street children, Deo too had brushes with the law but he always got away with it.

Until six months ago.

The law finally caught up with Deo and two of his friends and they were thrown to jail for substance abuse.

Jessie and Pao-pao, Deo’s friends, said life in jail was so hard they could barely stand it.

New life

“We want to start a new life if we are given the chance,” they said.

From day one of their detention, the three children said they vowed to reform if they got out.
Getting out of jail would give them a chance to reshape their lives.

“I hope we can get out as soon as possible. I want to continue my studies and become a teacher,” Deo said.

On Aug. 4, luck was on their side. Judge Antonio Lubao of the regional trial court branch 35 ordered their release, along with 30 others, from the General Santos Reformatory Center in Lanton, Apopong village.
Lubao’s order came after the city social welfare office asked the court to order the release of the three boys.

Rebecca Magante, city social welfare and development officer, claimed that because the reformatory center also hosts hardened criminals, it could never become conducive for minors.

The situation inside the country’s prisons system is also dehumanizing, she added.

“Many of our children in conflict with the law badly need support and right motivation. Putting them in prison should be the last recourse,” Magante said in an earlier interview.

The order was in compliance with Republic Act No. 9344, or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act, Lubao said.

The release order said Deo and 32 other minors would be transferred to the Marcellin Home for Street Children, which is run by the Marist Brothers.

Magante said at the Marcellin Home, the minors would have a chance to undergo value formation and livelihood training to prepare them for the challenges ahead.

Anticipating his release, Deo said the transfer to the Marcellin Home would give him a chance to realize his dream of becoming a teacher.

“I really want to teach,” he said.

Published on page A13 of the August 13, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
Link: http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view_article.php?article_id=14978