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Wednesday, October 26, 2005
'Child trafficking' in Iloilo to be checked
By Kathy Villalon Cinco
THE possibility of the existence of child trafficking in the province of Iloilo will be verified. Iloilo Provincial Police Office (Ippo) Deputy Regional Director for Operations, Supt. Cornelio Defensor, said this over Aksyon Radyo Monday.
His statement came after reports that a student of the Jalandoni Memorial School was almost abducted by a group of unidentified women last October 20.
Last October 18, two unidentified men on a red owner-type jeep suspiciously passed by the said school and offered chocolates to students. Then, they asked the students to come with them to the city so they could buy them clothes. However, the students ran away.
On October 20, three unidentified women onboard a green colored Toyota Tamaraw with plate number WGF 841, offered chocolates to one student and asked her to come with them. The said student agreed, but was pulled away by her sister and her group.
After verification by Aksyon Radyo from the Land Transportation Office, the said vehicle was registered to a Maria Punongbayan, a resident of Cabuyao, Laguna.
Alert
"The police have been alerted already. We are creating measures to preempt this," Defensor said.
Department of Education Provincial Head, Raymundo Lapating, said he has not received reports of such abduction.
"We cannot judge right away, but I assure you that our principals know their jobs. I told our principals that if ever there are reports of these incidents, they should inform the superintendent officially," he said.
He added that the principals should give instructions to students not to talk to or believe in strangers.
"I'm also seeking the help of our barangay officials, tanod and the police to avoid (incidents like this) happening in the Province of Iloilo," he added.
Motive
"We cannot confirm if child trafficking was the intent of these unidentified persons," Defensor said, adding that this will be checked.
"I can't recall of a child trafficking case here in the province. This is the first time this happened in Iloilo Province," he added.
According to data of the Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc, (VFFI) a Philippine-based national NGO, which fights for the protection and development of marginalized migrants, especially domestic workers and trafficked women and children, there have been 8,836 trafficked women and children from July 2001 to May 2005.
Some 163 of this number came from Western Visayas.
(October 25, 2005 issue)
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