The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas wishes to clarify the information attributed to the agency relative to the handling of the case involving a minor suspect of the killing of a 16-year old lass.

“The agency has been mentioned several times in the media reports because it has been mistakenly identified with the local social welfare and development office, that is why we need to clarify that the DSWD and the local social welfare and development office are two different entities,” said Director Rebecca Geamala of DSWD-7.

The DSWD is a national agency under the executive branch of the national government and headed by the Department Secretary while the Local Social Welfare and Development Office is under the local chief executive or the mayor or governor and headed by the P/C/M/SWDOs. Hence, the provincial/city/municipal social welfare and development office is not under the DSWD but under the local chief executive.

As the lead in social welfare and development, the DSWD is mandated to provide technical assistance and resource augmentation to the LGUs.

This particular case is handled by the local social welfare and development office of Lapu-Lapu City. The DSWD Regional Office has been coordinating with the Local Social Welfare and Development officer by providing technical assistance.

On March 21, 2018, DSWD-7 called for a case conference through its Protective Services Division which was attended by the representatives of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office of Cebu and City Social Welfare Officer of Lapu-Lapu City and her staff and assessed the case and discussed appropriate interventions to be provided by the concerned agencies to the families of the victim and the alleged youth perpetrator.

“We are saddened by the way the information regarding this case was handled because it has breached the principle of confidentiality of the matter as provided for by law.  Though the case is handled by the CSWDO of Lapu-Lapu yet the DSWD-7 will do intensive information drive and advocacy among its partners especially the multi-disciplinary team composed of the five pillars of the Criminal Justice System. We shall call for a meeting with them to be able to review and discuss about the proper handling of this case,” expressed Dir. Geamala. ###

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