DAVAO CITY — Police have rescued two 12-year-old boys who were caught on video clinging to and riding on the rear section of a moving wing van truck along a public road in Panacan, Davao City, prompting authorities to refer the minors to social welfare officials for appropriate intervention.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of October 30, 2026, and attracted public attention after a concerned citizen uploaded a video of the dangerous activity to the Facebook page Davao Idiot Drivers 2.0.
The footage showed the two minors, both residents of Barangay Ilang, Davao City, holding onto the rear portion of a moving heavy vehicle as it traveled along the road. The incident raised safety concerns because of the serious risk of injury or death associated with riding on the exterior of a moving truck.
Following the circulation of the video and receipt of the report, personnel of the Sasa Police Station (Police Station 4) immediately conducted follow-up operations to locate the children and ensure their safety.
At approximately 9:30 a.m. on November 2, police personnel successfully located and safely took custody of the two boys in Panacan, Davao City.
The minors were subsequently brought to Sasa Police Station together with their respective parents for initial counseling and appropriate intervention.
The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) then facilitated their immediate turnover to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), which will provide the necessary social welfare interventions, parental guidance measures, and protective assistance.
Authorities identified the children as Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), a classification used under the juvenile justice system. Given their age, the matter is being handled through appropriate child welfare and intervention mechanisms rather than being treated as an ordinary adult criminal case.
Police stress parental supervision and child safety
PCOL Peter Bauzon Madria, city director of the Davao City Police Office, commended the personnel of Sasa Police Station for their prompt response and successful recovery of the two minors.
Madria also emphasized the importance of parental supervision in preventing children from engaging in dangerous activities on public roads.
“We remind all parents and guardians to exercise close supervision over their children and actively ensure their safety at all times. Hazardous acts like street exhibitions on moving vehicles pose grave risks to young lives,” Madria said.
He further stressed that parental responsibility goes beyond providing children’s basic material needs, underscoring the importance of consistent guidance, discipline, and supervision in shaping their behavior and protecting them from potentially life-threatening situations.
The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by riding on the exterior of moving vehicles, particularly heavy trucks, where sudden braking, sharp turns, road irregularities, or unexpected movements could cause passengers clinging to the vehicle to fall onto the roadway.
Police urged parents and guardians to remain attentive to their children’s activities and reinforce road safety awareness at home.
The intervention also highlights the importance of addressing risky behavior among minors through family involvement, child protection services, and appropriate social welfare programs to prevent similar incidents.