Sunday, March 02, 2008 Minors in drugs, alcoholism, sex rampant in Bacolod By Karl G. Ombion
PARENTS, beware! Your kids could be one of the countless youth in the city taking illegal drugs, alcohol, and engaging in pre-marital sex.
Two parents recently disclosed to Sun.Star Bacolod, that their minor daughters were among the victims of bad peer groups engaging in illegal drugs, alcoholism, and free sex.
One parent, who begged not to be named, narrated some of the harrowing experiences their daughter was enmeshed in.
They said they just found out recently that their first year college daughter is already a drop out.
After repeated persuasive talks, their daughter admitted that for months she was with a peer group of mixed young student-girls and boys who take drugs like marijuana, shabu, ecstacy' and valium. That they drink alcoholic beverages, and engage in sex whenever they "get high in drugs."
They also said that for months their daughter would often asked permission to go on an overnight or weekend school project session. Later on however, their daughter would no longer ask for their permission and will stay out the whole night. Upon her return the next day, their daughter is usually in a state of "grogginess" and "can't speak or behave well."
Another parent told Sun.Star Bacolod that their sophomore daughter from a local university is already pregnant by an unknown partner.
When confronted their daughter admitted that sometime in November she was in a night out drinking spree with her classmates in a popular beer garden hangout near a local college.
When she woke up the next day, she found herself in a private house lying naked together with some of her boy-classmates.
All she could recall was her feeling of being "drunk" after two bottles of beer. She further said that she cannot remember what happened next.
The two parents who initiated separate investigations of their daughters' experiences revealed that several other parents have similar problems with their minor daughters and sons.
Of the two parents who talked to Sun.Star Bacolod only one made a blotter report in a local police station of the case. The parent admitted however that their family did not pursue a legal case as they wanted to protect the name of their daughter and family.
They added that several others did not even bother to file blotter reports to avoid "public shame" and possible reprisals from the culprits whom they believed belong to influential families.
A recent cursory survey made by Sun.Star Bacolod on the environment around universities and colleges in the city practically confirmed some parents' fear of the "bad influence" brought about by the abundance of beer-houses, videoke bars, night clubs, internet cafes, and some private dormitories appearing to be "hangouts" or "pick-up points" of students and youth.
In some spot checks made during the cursory survey, several minors, group of young high school and college students were drinking alcohol and puffing cigarettes.
It was also noted that policemen were seldom seen around these places, while some security guards of the establishments did not seem to care whether the clients were minors or not.
Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia in a talk with Sun.Star Bacolod Thursday was quite surprised, especially on the reported lack of police visibility and the absence of strict enforcement of the existing city ordinances banning the selling of alcoholic beverages to minors.
Leonardia nevertheless made an immediate order to Bacolod City Police Director Senior Superintendent Ronilo Quebrar to take into account the reported minors who are into illegal drugs and alcohol, and intensify the enforcement campaign against business selling alcohol to minors.
He also instructed the police and other concerned government agencies to intensify their general public awareness and education on the destructive effects of illegal drugs, alcoholism and pre-marital sex.
