Duterte orders arrest of parents of 3 children found sleeping on Davao City street

An angry Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ordered the arrest of the parents of three children who he found sleeping on the street before dawn Thursday.

Duterte chanced on the children sleeping along Loyola Street in Barrio Obrero in Davao City, GMA Davao reported.

The children were aged six to nine years.

"Na-trauma ang mga bata. Kaya dadalhin ko kayo sa opisina dahil may instruction si Mayor na hanapin kayo kahit hanggang umaga," a policeman who was part of the team carrying out Duterte's orders told the parents.

Duterte was also angry after learning the children were allegedly maltreated and driven away from home by their other relatives.

"Sinasaktan ako ng kuya ko... Kapag humihingi ako ng pera sa kanya, hindi siya nagbibigay," the nine-year-old child said.

For his part, Duterte said there are other parents willing to adopt children.

"Pag hindi nila kaya... may adoption para sa ibang tao. Marami riyan na gusto ng bata o anak. E andiyan lang, natulog malapit as imburnal, maraming lamok," he said.

A further check on the three children showed they came from two different places in the city.

Duterte ordered an investigation into whether their parents indeed maltreated them.

Meanwhile, one of the parents admitted spanking the nine-year-old, but said they did so only when he was naughty.

"Napapalo lang namin siya pag grabe na ang kapilyuhan niya. Kasi noong 2013 ginawa na niyang lumayas, nawala yan. Kaya yun nagtaka ako, alas onse na, wala pa rin siya. Naglibot kami, hindi namin siya makita," said the parent.

Another parent denied maltreating another child, adding this was the first time the child fled from home.

In the meantime, Duterte ordered the children placed under the city social welfare office's custody if the parents cannot take care of them.

"Itong mga batang ito kukunin ko... Ibibigay ko ang mga bata sa social worker kung ganyan lang din naman ang pagtrato nila sa anak nila. Hindi na sila mababalik sa kanila. I will not allow it," he said.

Under the city's ordinance 2491 or children's welfare code, government is to prioritize the welfare of children.

Meanwhile, Duterte said this should serve as a message to other parents. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News