IP parents reunite with missing children found in Cebu

CEBU CITY, Feb. 17 (PIA) -- A mother from an indigenous peoples (IP) community finally reunited with her daughter after not having seen her for almost three years.

Susay Bay-ao, a member of the Ata Manobo tribe in the hinterlands of Talaingod, Davao del Norte, said in 2018 she was informed that her daughter, along with other IP children, would only be attending classes in a Salugpongan school in Davao City, and would be coming home every three months.

Bay-ao began to worry when her daughter did not return home since then.

"Naa'y kasabutan nga matag tulo ka bulan mu uli didto sa amoa. Tulo ka tuig nalang wala gyud ni uli. Mao karon naa mi diri, antos lang ko musakay barko, karon pako kasakay barko imbes mahadlok ko musakay, ni ari lang lang gyud ko diri kay gusto ko makakita sa akong anak (There was an agreement that our children would come home every three months. But it has been three years and not one has returned. That's why we are here now, even if I'm afraid to travel by boat since it's my first time. I came here because I just want to see my daughter)," said Bay-ao.

Bay-ao, along with five other parents, sought the assistance of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development in Talaingod after they found out that their children were already in Cebu City when one of the minors was able to return home last month.

On Monday, the parents along with two tribal leaders were accompanied by the Cebu City Social Welfare and Development Office, Women and Children Protection Center Visayas Field Unit, Women and Children Protection Desk of Cebu City Police Office, Police Regional Office 7, and other government agencies to rescue the IP minors housed at the University of San Carlos (USC) Talamban Campus in Brgy. Talamban, Cebu City.

The social workers rescued 19 children from Talaingod and Sultan Kudarat who have been illegally held at the USC retreat house since March last year.

However, the Save Our Schools (SOS) Network-Cebu and the Society of the Divine Word Philippines Southern province, who allowed the IP minors to stay at the university, released a joint statement denying the students were being held captive.

According to SOS Network, the children fled their homes in Mindanao due to armed conflicts and joined the bakwit (evacuate) school program.

Organizations behind the bakwit school program maintained they have legal documents such as affidavits and permits from authorities to allow indigenous minors to travel to Cebu City.

They also said the children have been in contact with their parents throughout their stay in Cebu through video calls.

However, Lorena Bangoy, a member of the tribe and a translator, said the parents were made to sign a consent form without understanding its content.

Bangoy said the parents do not know how to read and write; but they wanted their children to at least have an education which is why they agreed to let them attend classes in Davao City.

She added that Lorua Sambeyang, one of the six parents who came to Cebu, said most of them do not have mobile phones and if they do, they would not know how to operate the gadgets.

She said the mother denied allegations that they were in contact with their children throughout the minors' stay in Cebu.

Meanwhile, the police said the Salugpongan was an alternative learning institution ran by the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) and used as a breeding ground for the communist recruitment of minors.

The Salugpongan schools were closed by the government since they operated without proper permit.

They added that the children are "victims of indoctrination and recruitment by the CTG and exploitation by the Salugpongan as they were used during protest rallies against the government." 

The police are set to file charges for kidnapping with serious illegal detention and Anti-Human Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 against those involved in these activities. (idc/PIA7)