Section 24. Rescued, Taken into Custody, or Surrendered Children Involved in Armed Conflict (CIAC).— Where the CIAC have been rescued, taken into custody, or surrendered, they shall at all times be treated in a child-friendly and sensitive manner. The State, at all times, shall consider the safety and security of the CIAC, and ensure that they are not subjected to tactical interrogation or any similar forms of investigation, especially by the police and military. The following procedures shall apply without prejudice to the application of other existing laws that will uphold the best interests of the child:

1. The identity of rescued CIAC shall be protected. Any identifying information regarding them shall remain confidential;

2. Rescued CIAC shall not be used for any political propaganda nor be unnecessarily exposed to media in violation of child rights to privacy, security and confidentiality of their cases;

3. Upon the rescue or surrender of the CIAC, government agencies, in particular, the AFP, the PNP, the Department of National Defense (DND), the local government units (LGUs), other concerned government agencies or nongovernment organizations in possession of the CIAC shall report immediately within twenty-four (24) hours the incident to the LSWDO, Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC);

4. The LSWDO or LCPC shall coordinate with the agency or nongovernment organization in possession of CIAC for the handover of custody of the children to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);

5. The handover to the LSWDO shall take place within twenty-four (24) hours or in cases where handover is not possible within the prescribed twenty-four (24)-hour period due to valid reasons and without the fault of the person having custody of the child, the handover shall be done within the next seventy-two (72) hours;

6. The LSWDO shall facilitate the family tracing and coordinate with parents, relatives or guardians of the CIAC to inform them of the handover;

7. The Local Health Office (LHO), in coordination with the LSWDO, shall check and assess the medical and physical condition of the CIAC. In cases where medical needs are apparent, the LHO shall ensure that medical services or treatment are received by the CIAC;

8. The LSWDO shall assess the needs of the CIAC and refer to concerned agencies to provide immediate assistance or appropriate services.

   The LSWDO shall require the parents of the child in situations of armed conflict to undergo counseling or any other intervention that, in the opinion of the court, will advance the welfare and best interest of the child. Relevant government agencies should provide social welfare and social protection interventions for parents and children to ensure family support, reintegration and rehabilitation, when necessary;

9. The LSWDO, in coordination with other agencies, shall enter the CIAC into the child-specific reintegration programs; and

10. The CIAC shall be reintegrated into the community and reunited with his or her family, or within a family or community setting where they can be adequately cared for and protected. In cases where reintegration to original community of origin is not feasible for reasons of CIAC‘s security, a conflict-free foster community or institution shall be identified. For other cases where children associated with government forces or armed groups remain with their family and community or maintain close ties, reintegration shall entail the reorientation of children towards civilian life.