By Belinda M. Otordoz
LUCENA CITY, Quezon Aug 30 (PNA) – A team from Lucena City Police Station led by P/Senior Inspector Elena Eleazar, chief of Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD), with personnel of City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) led by OIC Malou Maralit, conducted early Saturday at around 5:00 A.M.. a round-up operation for streetchildren within the city proper and in the vicinity of a mall along Dalahican Road in Barangay Ibabang Dupay here.
Lucena City Police chief, P/Supt Allen Rae Co, said he ordered this operation to clear the streets of the unsightly view of streetchildren and save them from further addiction to solvents.
He added that the children were forced to beg from passers-by to sustain this vice, and risking their young lives by boarding passenger vehicles to ask for alms.
The operation ended at around 7:00 A.M. with Eleazar’s team rescuing 11 streetchildren, ages ranging from 6-12 years old.
The City police chief said the streetchildren were brought to DSWD Reception Action Center (RAC) in Zaballero Subdivision, Barangay Gulang-gulang where they will undergo counselling, and will be provided with shelter and education until they are ready to be responsible residents of the community. (PNA)