23 mendicants rescued in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — Authorities have rescued 23 individuals Monday dawn along Mango Avenue and Juana Osmeña Extension, Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City.

Police Major Nolan Tagsip, chief of the Abellana Police Station 2 of the Cebu City Police Office, said that they implemented City Ordinance 1631 or the anti-mendicancy ordinance based on the series of reports and complaints they received regarding women and men allegedly asking for something in the area.

"Mostly they ask either, our foreign or local, and then we receive information and then there were series of complaints regarding this so we take action on that," said Tagsip.

Of the 23 who were rescued by the police, 19 of them were women and four were men.

They were issued citation tickets for violation of the anti-mendicancy law with a fine of P500 then they were turned over to the City Social Welfare Service office at the South Road Properties and undergo an intervention program.

"During the rescue operation, it was witnessed and CSWS is with us for further intervention," said Tagsip.

One of the goals of rescuing them is to prevent them from being tempted to commit a crime such as stealing.

The 23 individuals were educated about the law.

Tagsip also pointed out that they will not stop rescuing if they return to their usual behavior.

"We send a strong message to them dili na pwede ilang ginabuhat," said Tagsip. —/GMR (FREEMAN)