TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 02 rescued two minors who were allegedly victims of human trafficking in Cauayan City on Friday, November 17.
DSWD Social Worker Mylene Attaban said the two women were aged 14 and 16 years old and were residents of Bulacan. The two were referred to DSWD by a concerned citizen.
Attaban said that, during the suspension of classes because of the ASEAN festivities in Manila, the two were supposedly invited to hike in Cagayan.
“Hindi po nila naisip na mapupunta sila sa ganun. Ang nangyari po is hindi sila nasundo sa Cauayan City. May magsusundo po sana sa kanila. Wala po kasi silang cellphone,” Attaban said.
While in a bus, a concerned citizen noticed that the two were seemingly arguing. “Yung isa ayaw bumaba [sa bus] yung isa naman gustong bumaba. So nung tinanong, dun na nakita talaga nila na they are being trafficked,” Attaban said.
“Na-late po magsundo yung supposed na magdadala sa kanila somewhere sa Cauayan na magseserve sa certain na tao,” she added.
After being brought to DSWD’s regional office in this city, the two minors are now in the regional haven in Lingu, Solana, Cagayan.
DSWD is now requesting assessment of parenting capability of the parents of the grade 7 and grade 10 victims. Northernforum.net
