Kalinaw News: Rescued IP minors return home

From Kalinaw News (Feb 21, 2021): Rescued IP minors return home



Camp Quintin Merecido, Buhangin, Davao City- On the evening of February 21, 2021; the thirteen (13) rescued minors from the University of San Carlos retreat house in Cebu City belonging to the group of the Indigenous People (IP) of Talaingod, Davao del Norte arrived at Davao International Airport, DAVAO CITY.

Said minors were welcomed by personnel of Police Regional Office 11 led by Deputy Regional Director for Operation PCOL EDGAR ALAN O OKUBO together with PCOL RANIE P HACUELA, Davao Norte Police Provincial Office Director and Davao Norte Tribal Leaders.

The 13 minors were rescued on February 15, 2021 by the operatives from Police Regional Office 7 in coordination with Police Regional Office 11, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), and other concerned agencies.

These minors were transfered from the Talaingod Salugpungan School to Haran in 2018 and then later confirmed they were brought to the retreat house of University of San Carlos in Talamban, Cebu City in a yet to be determined timeline.

The rescue operation came after the parents of the minors sought for help from their tribal leaders, PRO 11 police, and the Municipal Social Worker Development Officer (MSWDO) of Talaingod, Davao Del Norte.

Immediately after their arrival at DIA, the minors together with their parents were transported to a Quarantine Facility in Talaingod Municipality, DAVAO DEL NORTE on board the Talaingod Municipality Bus.

With the foregoing, a case of kidnapping against the personalities responsible in taking the children to Cebu without the knowledge and consent of their parents will be initially filed thereat.

With all these, PBGEN FILMORE B ESCOBAL, RD, PRO 11 remarked: “these children were taken from their parents with false promises of bright future pero ang akala nilang magandang buhay ay ginagamit lang pala ang kanilang mga anak nitong mapagsamantalang grupo.” PBGEN ESCOBAL concluded.

PBGEN Escobal, ordered for further investigation as to the participation of organization or group behind and involved in the exploitation of these IP minors.

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