Caged boys rescued in Malabon

MANILA, Philippines — Social workers rescued two brothers, aged 5 and 3, from their house in Barangay Longos, Malabon on Thursday morning.

City public information chief Bong Padua said he accompanied the social workers, rescue personnel and police officers to a house on Lapu-lapu street, a few meters from the barangay hall, at around 9 a.m.

Local officials received reports that a man and his son-in-law have been neglecting the children, reported to be epileptic, in their shanty.

Padua said they saw the five-year-old boy naked in a makeshift crib. Neighbors told them another child was locked in a room upstairs.

The two boys, both unable to walk, were pale, thin and malnourished, Padua said.

Police said the boy’s parents separated several months ago. The father, who works at a hardware store, said he was forced to leave the boys with his father-in-law. 

The grandfather said he had to leave the children for hours each day so he could work as a driver for another hardware store.

“If I don’t work what would we do? The children are sick and we need to buy medicine,” he said.

The grandfather told police they sought the assistance of Barangay Longos chief Angelica dela Cruz but his request fell on deaf ears.

Barangay secretary Radiant Jumao-as said Dela Cruz was unavailable, but denied that the boys’ relatives sought help.

The grandfather said there were actually three children, but the third was given to a foster family.

The boys’ parents and grandfather were arrested on charges of child abuse.