Badjaos who were found begging in the streets of Lipa City were rounded up and sent back to Batangas City in groups using jeeps by the City Public Order and Safety Office (CPOS). 

Begging is strictly prohibited in Lipa City according to the local government unit (LGU).

The Lipa City Public Order and Safety Office reported that over 200 of them had come to the area to beg, often seen either on the streets or inside public utility vehicles like jeeps.

Authorities said the beggars were dressed decently, and were traveling by bus to Lipa City.

“Ang ginagawa nila ay nakabihis sila ng maayos eh. So hindi po ‘yun yung regular na nakikita nating mga Badjao, kaya po natin sinasakay ng ating mga jeep. Ngayon, nagba-bus sila [papasok ng Lipa City], hindi naman po pwede nilang pagbawalan kasi refusal to convey din naman ng pasahero,” Engr. Marlon Bryan Manalo, Lipa City Public Order and Safety Officer, said.

“Marami [kasi] tayong mga business establishments [at] mga regional offices [dito], so talagang dumadayo para manghingi. Dito po kasi dahil nga nasa sentro, may iba kasing mga motorista [at] residente na nagbibigay,” Manalo added.

Residents like Neil Perez and Sean Ramos said they support the rescue of the street dwellers. 

“Pabor naman ako doon, kasi ‘yung mga bata, specially ‘yung mga sanggol, kawawa. Noong una na pumupunta sila rito nagbibigay talaga kami, kasi siyempre tayong mga Pilipino, [may] awa sa puso. Pero ‘yung mga parents nila, ipinagsusugal nila [at] nagsisigarilyo,” Perez said.

“Perwisyo po talaga rito sa Lipa. May ilan na rin kababayan dito sa Lipa na nagrereklamo kung hindi huhulihin. Dapat talaga pauwiin na lang sila kasi laking abala po,” Ramos added.

On Ayala Highway, a six-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl who were barefoot and dirty said they were begging as instructed by their mother so they would have money to buy food. 

“Hihingi ng pera, pambili ng pagkain… wala pagkain sa Batangas,” the boy said.

The boy said he prefers to be at home in Batangas City to study and play rather than begging.

“Sa Batangas, para hindi ako nagtatrabaho [o] nanghihingi,” he said.

The Lipa CPOS plans to intensify monitoring and rescue operations to ensure that beggars are sent back to their towns or neighboring cities.

"Mayroon kasi tayong national law na Anti-Mendicancy (Anti-Mendicancy Law of 1978) na manghingi, iyan ay binabalik namin sa kanilang barangay sa Wawa at Malitam, doon din sa Batangas City. Kami naman talaga ay weekly, ginagawa namin. Parang twice a week ibinabalik namin sa lugar nila,” Manalo said.