DSWD urged: Take custody of lumad children from PNP

CEBU, Philippines —  Save Our Schools (SOS) Network Cebu has urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to take the custody of lumad minors from the police.

In a statement released to the media yesterday, the SOSN Cebu said there is no assurance the children are safe in the custody of Philippine National Police.

"We think it's high time for you to step up and take custody of the minors from the police. Ever since the fake rescue, the minors has been hidden away by the PNP. They claim they're in the safe house but with all that the police have been doing recently, how certain can we be that it truly is safe?," the statement reads.

The SOSN said that upon assessing the children’s reaction during the operation, where they 'shouted and cried in anxiety', it would be 'cruel' to leave them in the hands of the agency that allegedly caused them 'trauma'.

"How ironic is that the rescuers act more like captors? It is heartbreaking to think of the fear and anxiety those children must still be experiencing in their detention," the statement reads.

According to SOSN Cebu, DSWD is better equipped to handle such delicate things than the PNP.

In a message sent to The Freeman last Wednesday, Police Brigadier General Ronnie Montejo, Police Regional Office-7 chief, said the “rescued” minors are now under the care of DSWD.

"Under custody sila sa DSWD, amo lang pud gitabangan," said Montejo.

Montejo said the children and their parents are currently processing their travel documents with the help of Cebu City government as they are set to go back to Mindanao next week.

The children were part of the bakwit school program allegedly brought to Cebu from Mindanao without consent from their parents. The parents arrived in Cebu City from Talaingod, Davao del Norte last Monday and sought the assistance of the police prompting a “rescue” operation that also led to the arrest of seven individuals inside the University of San Carlos (USC) in Talamban Campus.

The seven were identified as Chad Booc, 27; Jomar Binag, 27; Moddie Mansumoy-at, 20; Benito Bay-ao, 53; Segundo Melong; Esmilito Oribawan; and Roshelle Mae Porcadilla 21.

Criminal complaints for kidnapping and serious illegal detention have been filed against them before the prosecutor’s office. The respondents have signed a waiver of detention while a preliminary investigation will be conducted to determine the existence of probable cause to hold them for trial in court. — FPL (FREEMAN)