Policemen have been instructed to refrain from using handcuffs on minors who are aged 18 years old and below during their arrests and detention under a new manual launched on Tuesday by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

The manual guides police officers in dealing with offending minors who are termed children in conflict with the law (CICL) as stated in the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act.

Under the manual titled “Police Manual on the Management of Cases of Children in Conflict with the Law,” police officers are required to refrain from using handcuffs on juvenile offenders unless “absolutely necessary.”

The manual also calls on police officers to refrain from exposing CICL in the media and to stop the practice of placing them inside jail cells while in detention.

“Of the different sectors of children in our society today, Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) have been the subject of much discussion and problem-solving of what the government and the private sector must do to alleviate their plight,” said DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who also chairs the Napolcom.

“What concerns us is the increasing involvement of younger children in youth crime, violence and deviant behavior. This is not only true in urban localities but also in rural areas where the influence of media, communications and technology have been felt all the more.”

Napolcom Vice Chairman Eduardo Escueta said the manual aims to “endeavor each and every police officer [to] fully understand her/his role in developing children into good persons and citizens.”

“This is the reason behind the development of this manual that codifies the guidelines and details the step-by-step procedures in the proper handling of children by the police,” Escueta said.

The manual states that police officers should read to CICL their rights under the Miranda doctrine and explain to them that they are considered “persons in custody” while they have not yet been turned over to the proper authorities.

Also under the manual, policemen should encourage the CICL to address them as “Kuya” or “Ate” and to immediately introduce themselves and present proper identification when making apprehensions.

Following the apprehension, every minor should be immediately turned over by the apprehending policeman to the women’s and children’s desk or to the designated CICL investigator upon reaching the police station.