PHILIPPINES
Business World
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Northern Mindanao are poised to file child abuse charges against two clerics of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) who are keeping five minors suspected to be members of a communist group.
Supt. Gervacio Balmaceda, Jr., PNP Region 10 spokesperson, said in an e-mail that IFI’s Bishop Raul Amoricillo and parish priest Rolando Abejo could face cases against Republic Acts 7610 and 7658, both laws covering protection of children.
Mr. Amoricillo earlier claimed that IFI was accorded custody of the five minors who were among the 13 arrested earlier this month by police from Libona, Bukidnon on suspicion that they were members of the New People’s Army (NPA).
Upon confirming that the five are indeed minors after they were arrested, the police turned them over to the Libona municipal social welfare and development office.
Mr. Amoricillo, in a press conference last Tuesday, said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office gave custody of the children to one Melvy Anlagan, their relative, who, in turn, requested IFI to take custody of the minors.
In a separate e-mail, DSWD Region 10 Spokesperson Oliver Inodeo clarified that the minors were never under the custody of their agency.
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