A two-year-old boy and his five-year-old sister in Marawi City were rescued after they were allegedly hidden by their mother’s former employer.

The rescue operation was carried out by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Iligan City and personnel of the Marawi City Social Welfare and Development Office and Department of Justice (DOJ) Action Center.

Based on initial report, the mother brought her children to Marawi City where she worked as a house help.

The mother and her kids lived together for more than a year while working in the house. However, the mother was reportedly forced to travel later to Villanueva, leaving her children behind.

“Mga one year kapin nag-live and mother ug children didto sa Marawi kay supposedly katabang sila sa balay and then ang mother, na-force to travel sa Villanueva and then nabilin ang mga bata,” DOJ Action Center-10, Atty. Henry III Legaspi, said.

The mother reportedly tried several times to get her children back but her former employer allegedly refused to release them, even claiming, allegedly, that the children were hers.

During the operation, one of the children ran immediately to the mother.

The woman and her children were brought to the DOJ Action Center for intervention.

“Mo- undergo sila og reformation program, sa pagkakaron i-house sa sila and then murag debriefing na style, i-orient sila sa unsay nahitabo ug posibleng outlook nila sa future,” Legaspi said.

Meanwhile, investigation and case build-up are ongoing to determine the appropriate charges to be filed against the suspect.

GMA Regional TV One Mindanao is reaching out to the suspect for a statement, as of this writing.