Former Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo and ACT party-list Rep. France Castro were held by the police after they were caught on board vans allegedly illegally holding 14 minors in Talaingod, Davao del Norte Wednesday.
Capt. Erick Wynmdr F. Calulot, Public Information Officer of the Army 1003rd Brigade, said that based on information they received, Ocampo was in a convoy of five vans with a total of 74 persons onboard when they were stopped at past 9 p.m. by members of the Talaingod police supported by the Army in a checkpoint.
Authorities found out that their convoy had a group of minors who came from different parts of Mindanao and was headed to an unknown destination.
Calulot said the incident was confirmed by the Social Welfare and Development Officer of Talaingod.
Further inspection revealed that the minors were aged 14 to 17, prompting the Philippine National Police to coordinate with the local government’s Social Welfare and Development Office who profiled and rescued
them.
Further inspection also revealed that the group had 10 teachers who belong to the ACT party-list and the Salugpungan Ta’tanu Igkanugon Learning Center whose main campus is located in Sitio Dulyan, Barangay
Palma Gil, Talaingod.
Calulot said some of the children who were from the area have been taken by their parents
home. As for the others who are not from the area, coordination is already being made by the local government to inform their relatives on their whereabouts. (Francis T. Wakefield)
