CHR deploys team to look into rescue ops of Lumad minors

MANILA – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said it has already deployed an investigation team to look into the “rescue operation” of Lumad children in Cebu City, spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said on Wednesday.

“Given the different claims involving the incident, our interest is to pin down the truth and look forward to the cooperation of all parties concerned as we move forward in our independent investigation,” de Guia said in a statement.

On Feb. 15, social workers and police authorities rescued at least 19 minors belonging to the Ata Manobo tribe, who have been held since March last year at a retreat house operated by the management of the University of San Carlos (USC)-Talamban campus.

De Guia said the CHR’s investigation team was dispatched on the same day.

According to the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas, 13 of the rescued children came from Talaingod town in Davao del Norte and six are from different towns in Sultan Kudarat.

Three other minors from Talaingod were allegedly brought to the University of the Philippines in Metro Manila to work with left-leaning organizations.

Police authorities said about seven persons, who were with the children at the campus, will face criminal charges.

The suspects will be charged with kidnapping and serious illegal detention in relation to Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, violation of RA 9208 or the Anti-Human Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003, as amended by RA 10364.