Parents seek the release of Bohol girls

THEY want their children back.

Parents of the 15 Boholano girls who were rescued at the pier in Cebu City in transit to Manila asked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) to release their daughters.

But the girls will have to stay in the DSWD center until social workers complete their assessment of the cases of suspected human trafficking.

“The parents appeared worried about the condition of their children but we explained to them that they could not be discharged yet,” DSWD-7 social worker Edna Ragudo told Cebu Daily News.

She said parents admitted that they had allowed their children to leave for Manila believing they would be hired as nannies.

The recruiter, a 41-year-old Tagalog mother, along with her daughter were arrested and charged with “qualified human trafficking,” a nonbailable offense.

Some of the girls later told a prosecutor that their new jobs would involve the “Internet” and that they only had to “face the computer” and follow instructions given by a foreigner.

Parents had to present identification before they could see their daughters. They were escorted by municipal social workers from Bohol. The DSWD also paid for their fare going home to Bohol.

So far, the girls are cooperating with social workers and not showing signs of anxiety disorders. Three minors have to undergo a medical checkup.

Ragudo said the DSWD may also keep the children longer so that they would not be influenced during the proceedings of the court case.

For now, the 11 minors in the group will stay in the center. Since they are missing classes, they can sign up for the Alernative Learning Sytem (ALS) in the center. Their four older companions said they prefer to stay in the center and take up a vocational course.

Five girls have no birth certificates and will be assisted in getting registered by the National Statistics Office.

Meanwhile, the three girls and two male youths from Toledo City who were stopped at the pier on the way to Manila are also under the custody of DSWD.
They will undergo medical assessment as well. So far, no family members or relatives have visited them.