Police round up 79 ‘vagrants’

CEBU, Philippines - At least 79 people including minors were taken into police custody Tuesday evening during operation “Oplan Libod Suroy” along General Maxilom Avenue.

Cebu City police director Senior Superintendent Noli Romana ordered the roundup of street children because of several complaints from foreign nationals. Street children are allegedly involved in petty crimes preying on foreign nationals.

 Inspector Luzviminda Langbid, chief  of the Women’s and Children’s Desk, said 55 minors were “rescued’ roaming around the streets during night time.

Langbid said the operation was conducted under the supervision of Chief Inspector Wildemar Tiu, chief of the Waterfront Police Station. The police started the “rescue operation” at 8 p.m. near a fast food chain outlet along General Maxilom Avenue all the way to Fuente Osmeña rotunda. The operation lasted until midnight.

According to Langbid, the children were seen loitering on the streets. She said 29 were turned over to Pari-an drop-in center, 12 at the community scouts, while the others were turned over to their parents.

Aside from street children, there were also adults who were invited to the police station for questioning but were released later.  Langbid said Romana noticed the rise in criminalities involving minors along Mango Avenue. She said that some of these kids are being used by their parents themselves to perpetrate crimes.

“Naay balay pero moanha gyud dili ni sila homeless ang uban ani gisugo sa pagpakilimos,” she said

Langbid said more operations will be conducted in the coming days.  (FREEMAN)