CHAPTER 1

RESCUING A CHILD AT RISK (CAR)

Section 1-1 Who is a Child at Risk?
1.1 At risk of becoming a Child in Conflict with the Law (CICL).
CAR refers to children who are vulnerable to and at risk of behaving in a way that can harm themselves or
others, or vulnerable and at risk of being pushed and exploited to come into conflict with the law because of
personal, family and social circumstances, such as, but not limited to, the following:
a. being abused by any person through sexual, physical, psychological, mental, economic or any other
means, and the parents or guardians refuse, are unwilling, or unable to provide protection for the child;
b. being exploited sexually or economically;
c. being abandoned or neglected, and after diligent search and inquiry, the parents or guardians cannot be
found;
d. coming from a dysfunctional or broken family or being without a parent or guardian;
e. being out of school;
f. being a street child;
g. being a member of a gang;
h. living in a community with a high level of criminality or drug abuse; and
i. living in situations of armed conflict.

1.2 Violation of ordinances.

CAR also includes those children who violate the ordinances enacted by local governments, concerning
juvenile status offenses enumerated in Section 57-A of R.A. No. 9344 as amended by R.A. No. 10630 ,
such as, but not limited to:
a. curfew violations
b. truancy
c. parental disobedience
d. anti-smoking and anti-drinking laws, as well as those concerning light offenses and misdemeanors

against public order or safety such as, but not limited to:
1) disorderly conduct
2) public scandal
3) harassment
4) drunkenness
5) public intoxication
6) criminal nuisance
7) vandalism
8) gambling
9) mendicancy
10) littering
11) public urination, and
12) trespassing

1.3 Decriminalized acts when committed by Children. CAR also includes those who commit any of the
following:
a. Prostitution (Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code);
b. Mendicancy (Presidential Decree No. 1563); and
c. Sniffing of rugby (Presidential Decree No. 1619).
CHAPTER 2
WHO IS A CICL?
A Child in conflict with the law or CICL refers to a child who is alleged as, accused of, or adjudged as,
having committed an offense under Philippine laws. The offenses under this rule do not include those
violations stated in Section 1-1.2 and Section 1-1.3.

Section 3-1 Protection upon Initial Contact

The CICL shall enjoy the rights laid down in R.A. No. 9344 as amended and its Implementing Rules and
Regulations, and shall enjoy the protection of other laws, whenever applicable from the first time that the
child comes in contact with the Juvenile Justice and Welfare System.
The right to privacy of a child in conflict with the law shall be respected at all stages of the proceedings. As
such, all records and proceedings involving children in conflict with the law, from initial contact until the final
disposition of the case, shall be considered privileged and confidential as provided in Chapter 9.

Section 3-2 Who may Conduct Initial Contact

First responders, beat patrol officers, WCPD and other responding police officers who shall have initial
contact with a CICL is covered under this Manual.