By CESAR JOLITO III

The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) in Bacolod City said the parents of the three rescued minors, aged 13 to 15, following a viral video allegedly intimidating children at a fast-food outlet, could face consequences if found negligent.

“Repeated negligence can lead to legal action,” DSSD head Dr. Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga said.

“In some cases, we can take custody while providing assistance to the children,” she added.

On Thursday, August 14, the DSSD Anti-Mendicancy Team and Bacolod City Police Station 1 rescued the minors after concerned citizens shared footage online depicting solvent-sniffing youths intimidating customers at a restaurant on Gatuslao Street.

One parent claimed a minor threatened her daughter’s companion with a scissor-like object.

City police office director, Colonel Joeresty Coronica, confirmed the minors matched those in the viral clip, which stirred alarm among parents and the community.

Mayor Greg Gasataya personally reviewed the video and ordered immediate action, classifying the minors as “children at risk.”

Visiting Police Station 1, the mayor stressed the city’s priority to safeguard both public safety and the welfare of street-involved youth.

“We had to act quickly given the public outcry and the situation. Our responsibility is to protect both the community and these children,” Gasataya said.

Initial checks revealed that one minor had run away from Negros Occidental’s Cadiz City, while the other two are Bacolod natives living on the streets.

All three are now at the city’s Youth Home, where they will undergo rehabilitation and counseling while authorities evaluate the next steps./CJ, WDJ