Child of street dweller kidnapped in QC

The daughter of a street dweller went missing after she was kidnapped by another homeless individual in Quezon City.

In Oscar Oida’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the street dweller can’t help but feel sad over what happened to his child who is turning 2-years-old.

“Sobrang bigat, sobrang hirap ng ano na po namin, sir. Mabigat na sa pakiramdam, sir, hindi na namin alam kung nasaan yung anak namin. Nakakakain ba siya nang maayos?” said Melvin Lorejas as he worries about his daughter Kiana Jane.

(It's so heavy, what we're going through is so difficult, sir. It feels heavy in my chest, sir; we don't know where our child is. Is she eating well?)

The toddler was kidnapped by another street dweller in Barangay San Bartolome. Lorejas recalled that he met the suspect in a side hustle as door openers in an establishment.

Further, Lorejas said the suspect offered to buy their dinner to which he agreed to. But he and his wife worried when the suspect and their daughter have not returned.

CCTV footage showed that the suspect was carrying the child as they left a convenience store last December 10.

“Siguro po mga ten minutes, sir, hindi pa siya bumabalik. Kinabahan na kami, sir. Yung misis ko agad naghanap,” said Lorejas.

(Maybe about ten minutes had passed, sir, and they still hadn't returned. We started to get nervous, sir. My wife immediately left to look for them.)

Lorejas and his wife immediately went to the police to report the incident.

“Lumalabas sa investigation namin na yung minor eh parang naipagkatiwala niya sa suspek. Ang paalam kasi ng suspek ay bibili lang ng pagkain, so pumayag naman ang parents. After a while, napansin nila na hindi na bumalik 'yung bata,” said Novaliches Police Station commander Police Lt. Col. Michael John Villanueva.

(Based on our investigation, it appears the minor was somewhat entrusted to the suspect. The suspect's excuse was that he was just going to buy food, so the parents agreed. After a while, they noticed the child had not returned.)

The suspect was eventually arrested but without Lorejas’ daughter. The Quezon City Police said the suspect used the child to beg in the street.

“Noong naaresto po namin yung suspect umamin naman po siya na ginamit nga po niya sa panlilimos yung bata at kung saan saan nga po sila nakarating at iniwan raw niya po yung bata sa kaibigan niya sa may Muñoz,” said QCPD Station 4 officer Police Lt. Col. Michael John Villanueva.

(When we arrested the suspect, he admitted that he used the child for begging and they travelled to various places, and he allegedly left the child with a friend near Muñoz.)

The QC cops brought the suspect to Muñoz to point out the alleged friend whom he left the child with. But the authorities did not find the child.

When asked why he kidnapped the girl, he said: “Naawa na po kasi ako sa kanya, laging napapalo, laging napapalo ng nanay kaya binigay ko sa kaibigan ko.”

(I just felt sorry for her because she was always being hit — her mother was always hitting her — so I gave the child to my friend.)

The suspect is now facing charges for violation of the Republic Act 7610 or child abuse/exploitation in relation to Article 270 of the Revised Penal Code or kidnapping and failure to return a minor.

Lorejas is hoping and praying that he will find his daughter soon.

“Baka po makita niyo yung anak ko, pagbigay alam nyo naman po kaagad sa amin,” he said.

(If you happen to see my daughter, please let us know right away.)

For any leads or information to the child’s whereabouts, you may reach out to Lorejas via 0912 939 0138, or the QCPD Station 4 through 0998 598 7948.

DSWD program

On the other hand, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said that it has programs to address the high number of street dwellers, with 15,000 recorded, in Metro Manila.

“Nagsasagawa tayo ng reach out activities sa mga families and individuals in street situation at dinadala natin sa processing center,” said DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao.

(We are conducting reach-out activities for families and individuals in street situations and bringing them to processing centers.)

“Meron tayong livelihood interventions. Tinutulungan natin sila para makapag-umpisa o makapagpatuloy ng kanilang kabuhayan doon sa kani-kanilang mga probinsya,” she added.

(We have livelihood interventions. We help them start or continue their livelihoods back in their respective provinces.)  — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News