COPS RESCUE TWIN BABIES SOLD FOR P30K

BY KEVIN GALANG

THE eight-month-old twin boys sold for P30,000 were rescued by joint operatives in a follow-up operation in Candaba, Pampanga.

Three women, including the twins’ mother, were arrested for human trafficking.

In a report to Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) director Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez, Pampanga police director Col. Ricardo M. David  identified the suspects in their  aliases as “Doreen,” the mother of the twin infants and a resident of Taguig City; “Jen,” 38; and “Seny,” 36, both residents of Pampanga.

Personnel of the Taguig City Police Station’s Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD), in coordination with the Taguig City Police Intelligence Section, Candaba Municipal Police Station, and the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group’s Regional Intelligence Unit 3, launched the rescue operation.

The operation stemmed from a complaint by the twins’ grandmother, who raised concerns over the alleged transfer of custody of the infants by their mother Doreen, to Jen and Seny.

An investigation showed that Doreen allegedly met the two women through Facebook, with the suspects reportedly transferring P30,000 through the mother’s GCash account.

Doreen had allegedly taken the twins from their grandmother’s care following a family dispute in August.

On Oct. 19, Taguig City police WCPD personnel, in coordination with social welfare authorities from Taguig City and San Luis, Aurora, conducted a rescue operation at Doreen’s residence in San Luis.

Doreen was apprehended during the operation, but the twin boys were nowhere to be found.

During questioning, Doreen allegedly admitted involvement in the buying and selling of children, including the twins, and claimed she had transferred their custody to a couple in Bulacan.

Authorities also found a 10-year-old boy and a six-month-old infant at the house of the suspect. 

Both children were placed under the custody of the San Luis Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office while authorities verified their identities and the circumstances surrounding their presence there.

On Oct. 24, Taguig City police WCPD personnel, with the help of the Taguig City Social Welfare and Development Office and the Candaba police, conducted a follow-up operation at the residence of the two other suspects in Pampanga.

A subsequent operation on Oct. 25 initially failed to locate the two women at their residence, prompting authorities to arrange a meeting at the Candaba barangay hall.

The meeting led to the arrest of the suspects and the successful recovery of the twin boys from the couple’s custody.

The twin babies were referred to the appropriate social welfare authorities for assessment and protective custody, with their safety and best interests given priority.

The intants’ mother and the two other suspects are set to be transported to the Taguig City Police Station for inquest proceedings.

Charges for violation of Republic Act 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; RA 10364, which expanded the law in 2012; and RA 11862 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2022 are being readied for filing in court against the arrested suspects.