MANILA, Philippines — A total of 967 indigenous people (IP) who traveled to Metro Manila to ask for alms during the Christmas season have been rescued from the streets, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has said.
An updated report on Monday shared by NCRPO Director Guillermo Eleazar showed that after 126 operations conducted from December 11 to Monday morning, 582 minors were rescued — comprising 60 percent of the total number.
Adult IPs, on the other hand, totaled to 385, or 39.81 percent.
Out of the 937 IPs, 210 were identified as Aetas, 145 came from the ethnic group Badjao, while 609 came from other tribes.
The rescued IPs were either given warnings or turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) offices.
READ: 535 street beggars rescued during holiday season — NCRPO
Most of the IPs were found within the jurisdiction of the Manila Police District, with 349 rescued in the capital city. Of this number, 221 are with DSWD, 18 are now staying at the Manila Boys Town, 58 were turned over to barangay offices, 29 are back with their relatives, while 23 were charged for violating city ordinances.
In Quezon City where 332 were rescued, 142 were brought to the DSWD’s Jose Fabella Center in Mandaluyong while 180 were turned over to barangay offices.
The Southern Police District (SPD) turned over 169 of the 213 rescued to barangay officials, while 41 are now under DSWD custody. In the Eastern Police District (EPD) area, 57 were rescued and out of this number, 19 were given warnings and 36 were turned over to DSWD.
In the Northern Police District (NPD), three were given warnings while 23 were brought to DSWD offices.
According to NCRPO, the operations were done in implementation of Presidential Decree No. 1563 or the Mendicancy Law of 1978. /je
Originally published on Dec 23, 2018 @ 09:35. Edited to reflect updated figures.