Two-yr-old girl rescued from abductor-father

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — A 2-year-old Brazilian-Canadian girl, who was allegedly abducted by her own father in Ukraine then brought to and abandoned later in this city, was rescued by the City Police last Monday.

The girl was reportedly abducted June this year and was brought to this city under the care of a certain "Cindy," who was later identified as Candida Mortalla Flores, 48, an owner of a tailoring shop at the city public market, according to City Police chief James Goforth.

The City Police received word about the abduction of the girl, after being told by Supt. Rhodel Semonia, foreign liaison division chief of the Directorate of Intelligence at Camp Crame in Manila.

Semonia was in turn informed by Peter Lambertucci, police liaison officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

With Flores' aid, along with representatives from the City Welfare and Development office and barangay officials, the City Police rescued the from Flores' home Monday evening in Barangay Bagacay of this city. The city's DSWD later took custody of the child.

Flores said that she served as the girl's foster mother after she was left by her Canadian father in this city last July for no apparent reason.

Last Wednesday, Irenea Balmes, a representative from the Brazilian Embassy in Manila, coordinated with City Police and took custody of the child after making arrangements with Camp Crame to transport the child to the capital, police records said.

"The Brazilian Embassy took responsibility of the girl since  her mother was a Brazilian," Goforth told The Freeman.

The child, along with Balmes, left for Manila Wednesday afternoon via plane, police records added. (FREEMAN)