MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said it has started a separate probe on the University of San Carlos in Cebu, where at least 19 “lumad” (Indigenous Peoples) children took refuge and were allegedly rescued by the police from indoctrination by communists.
“Actually, we are conducting a separate investigation po doon [USC]. I already tasked the regional director to coordinate with DepEd [Department of Education] din dito kung something is amiss […],” PNP Chief General Debold Sinas said in a press conference in Cebu, when asked about the possibility of filing a complaint against the university.
(We are conducting a separate investigation there. I tasked the regional director there to coordinate with DepEd if there is something amiss.)
“We will finalize itong report nila, to communicate and write a letter to DepEd or kung ano man ang relations sa kanila [USC] upang mabigyan ng kaukulang pagimbestiga dito,” Sinas added.
(We will finalize the report, to communicate and write a letter to DepEd or their relations to probe their involvement here.)
Seven people, including members of Indigenous Peoples communities, are now facing criminal complaints after police rescued the lumad children, who according to the police, were being recruited by communist rebels. Those arrested are now detained at the Police Regional Office-7 Headquarters in Cebu.
According to the Save Our Schools Network (SOSN), an advocacy group for children’s education, those detained are two volunteer teachers and five lumad leaders.
Based on viral videos, the lumad children were screaming as they were being dragged by their alleged rescuers during the alleged rescue operation.