‘Oplan Sagip Anghel’ rescues 53 minors in Quezon City

Quezon City authorities have rescued 53 street dwellers in the city's Barangay Greater Lagro on Thursday night. ‘

GMA News' "Unang Balita" reported Friday morning that local officials, social welfare workers and police personnel rescued several minors, including "batang hamog", "rugby boys" and street dwellers at past 10 p.m.  during "Oplan Sagip Anghel" –a campaign against child abuse and human trafficking.

Thursday night's operation in Lagro was conducted by barangay officials along with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) personnel, Quezon City Police District Station 5 operatives, and the Department of Public Safety Office in the area.

The report said that a female minor, celebrating her 17th birthday, was among those who were brought to the barangay hall for yielding suspected shabu.

"Wala po talaga sa'kin yun, hindi po talaga sa'kin 'yun. Nagulat na lang po ako tumakbo sila lahat sa loob kasi naglalaro po ako ng sepat, sabi takbo na tayo," the girl said.  

Barangay Greater Lagro chairman Rene Galimba, meanwhile, said that they conducted the operation after receiving complaints that street dwellers were disturbing motorists and employees of a mall near the area every night.

The street dwellers were brought to the barangay hall and were fed with porridge before they were turned over to the DSWD. —Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/LBG, GMA News