31 minors rescued from Bohol orphanage sans permits

CEBU, Philippines - A total of 38 individuals, most of them minors, were rescued, while three persons were arrested Saturday during a joint operation by the National Bureau of Investigation-Bohol and different social welfare and development offices, at a residential care facility in Tagbiliran City, Bohol.

The rescue operation last Saturday was in response to the appeal from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas that is cracking down on illegitimate residential care facilities in the region.

NBI-Bohol executive officer Arcelito Albao told The FREEMAN that past 4 p.m. Saturday, NBI-Bohol operatives and social officers raided the Street Kids Philippines Mission orphanage in Barangay Bool, Tagbilaran City.

He said the composite team also apprehended three individuals; couple Matthew Dwinells and his wife Dalisay, who allegedly own the facility; and Roslem Zuniega, who allegedly manages it for the couple.

The Dwinells are US citizens based on their passports.

Initial investigation revealed the facility had been operating for six years "in the guise of an orphanage," said Albao. He added the raiding team also found out that the owners failed to follow the proper guidelines for operating an orphanage and were also operating without a license from DSWD-7.

Albao said the facility fist opened in Cebu Province but later moved its operations to Bohol. He said the owners brought with them the housed individuals in Cebu without authorization from DSWD-7 and reportedly without consent from their respective parents.

Given the circumstances, Albao said NBI-Bohol is set to file charges against the three for violating Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

He added operatives will also determine if there are other child abuse cases.

The suspects are now detained at NBI-Bohol headquarters and will be subject to inquest today.

Emma Patalinghug, head of the Protective Services Unit of DSWD-7, said the agency has been cooperating with NBI-Bohol executives for possible legal actions especially after they learned that the facility is unregistered and unlicensed with DSWD.

She said any individual or entity is prohibited to run a facility without a registration and license from DSWD-7. Without conforming to the existing rules and regulations, she said they are unauthorized to take into custody individuals especially minors in need of social protection.

Based on the initial inquiry of DSWD-7, 27 of the individuals were identified as Cebu residents, 23 of which are minors. Another 10 are from Bohol, 8 of which are minors. The last resident has an address in Iligan City.

Patalinghug said some of these children were with their mothers, who were reportedly battered wives.

After the rescue operation, she said all male individuals were referred to an NGO-residential facility licensed by DSWD in Bohol while the girls were referred to an LGU-run residential facility still in Bohol.

She said the rescued individuals underwent an intake interview yesterday with the assigned social workers in Bohol to know their profile and family background, and most especially how they were housed in the facility.

For the abandoned or orphaned minors from Cebu, Patalinghug said the social workers were instructed to track down their respective parents or close relatives.

Patalinghug pointed out that the reason for strictly imposing the guidelines in operating residential facilities either managed by local residents or foreigners is to protect the interest and the welfare of the children and women, and for the facility to conform to the standards set by DSWD.

DSWD serves as the government's regulatory arm for non-government organizations and government agencies delivering social welfare and development programs and services.

The agency is guided through DSWD Administrative Order no. 17 that stipulates the rules and regulations on the registration and licensing of Social Welfare and Development Agencies and accreditation of Social Welfare and Development programs and services.

It is a set of guidelines, that aims to regulate the practice of social welfare and development entities, both public and private in the country that engage in social welfare and development activities through registration, licensing and accreditation.

However, the owners of the facility in Tagbiliran City, Bohol failed to comply with the necessary requirements.

Patalinghug said the owners initially applied but did not pursue processing the requirements and continued operating nonetheless.

It was not until DSWD-7 received complaints from some individuals in Bohol about the operation of the facility that they conducted the rescue operation last weekend.

NBI-7 Director Patricio Bernales Jr. said they are not privy to the operation saying it was a local initiative. However, he said they will assist NBI-Bohol in case they need help.

The FREEMAN tried to reach Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Provincial Board chairwoman of the committee on women, family and minors, through her cellular phones but repeated calls and text messages went unanswered. — with Kristine B. Quintas and Ric V. Obedencio/BRP (FREEMAN)