Twisted truth, IP kids’ rescuers on Cebu-based NGO claims

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 24, 2021): Twisted truth, IP kids’ rescuers on Cebu-based NGO claims (By Che Palicte)

WITH CONSENT. Along with the parents of rescued minors in Cebu City, law enforcement and military authorities and other government officials hold a press conference on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 23, 2021) in Tagum City to belie the claim that the families were not informed about the Feb. 15, 2021 operation. According to some of the parents, they were not aware that their children had been taken from the UCCP Haran Center in Davao City by a leftist group to Cebu City. (PNA photo by Che Palicte)

Authorities responsible for the rescue of 19 Mindanaoan tribal children in Cebu City lambasted a Cebu-based child rights group for allegedly twisting the truth on the parents' knowledge about the Feb. 15 operation.

In a press conference here Tuesday afternoon, both the parents of the rescued children and the officials of the Police Regional Office in Region 11 (PRO-11) debunked the claim of the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB) that the families of the minors involved were not aware of the operation.

“It is not true that the CLB was contacted by the parents of these children and asked the group to represent on their behalf. Before we executed the rescue, the parents already made an affidavit about their concern,” Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal, PRO-11 director, said.

Escobal, who organized the operation in coordination with the Cebu City police, said the rescue team even brought the parents' affidavit during the actual operation.

“We brought a statement from the 11 parents. Only six of them managed to join the rescue because the others cited important reasons not to participate. I reiterate that it is a valid complaint; that is why we immediately acted on it,” he said.

Of the 19 rescued children, 13 are from the Davao del Norte town of Talaingod, five from Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao, and one from Zamboanga City. They all belong to various Indigenous Peoples (IP) groups.

Escobal and the parents issued the denial after CLB claimed on Monday that some of the parents of the rescued minors had expressed concern for not informing them about transporting the children back to their respective hometowns.

Escobal also questioned the motive of the CLB for attempting to prevent the transport of the children.

According to their background investigation, he said they discovered that CLB is connected to the National Union of People’s Lawyers, a leftist group that has suspected ties to the communist rebel movement.

“If you look at their advocacy, you can say that it is really good, but their action speaks otherwise. So they are just used as an instrument by the communists,” he added.

Reunited

Rose, a mother of one of the rescued tribal children who attended the press conference, recounted the pain she felt three years ago when his son went missing after he stayed at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Haran in Davao City, supposedly to study.

Rose, the mother of one of the rescued tribal children in Cebu City, narrates how his son was gone missing and brought to Cebu City by a leftist group. Along with other parents, Rose told her story in a press conference in Tagum City on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 23, 2021). (PNA photo by Che Palicte)

“It was three years already and I keep on looking for him. I went to Haran and ask if my son is there but they cannot show me until we were told that he was in Cebu,” Rose said in vernacular.

The Haran Center at the UCCP compound in Davao City has long been giving shelter to IP evacuees from all parts of Mindanao. However, the center has come under intense scrutiny from the military and tribal leaders for many years for supposedly becoming a recruitment ground for the communist New People's Army (NPA).

According to Rose, she consulted their tribal leader in Talaingod town upon learning that her son was taken from Haran to a facility in Cebu City.

“I am so happy that he is alive and he came back home safely,” Rose said.

Arlani Batua, department head of the Talaingod Municipal Social Development Welfare Office (MSWDO), told Philippine News Agency that the rescued children and their parents are currently staying in a quarantine facility.

The rescued children from the town will be transferred to a temporary shelter after the 14-day quarantine, she said, adding: "They cannot join their community yet because we will prepare them through psychosocial intervention."

Meanwhile, Datu Andigao Agao, a Manobo tribal leader in the area, vowed not to allow any group with suspected links to the NPA to come near their communities.

“They are just telling lies and they will kidnap our children and persuade them with their false promises,” Agay said in vernacular.

At least seven persons were charged with serious illegal detention, kidnapping, and violation of Republic Act No. 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, two days following the rescue operation.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131670