DSWD regional director Adelina Apostol said that of the 69 victims, there are 23 minors and four males most of whom rescued from prostitution fronts in Central Luzon provinces.
“More than rescuing them, their rehabilitation and reintegration is an important phase,” she said, saying that two (2) minors have already been integrated with their families in Olongapo City even as social welfare officials have continued to assist them in the cases they filed against their former employers after being rescued in Angeles City.
She added that a third minor is still in Haven, a home for girls in Pampanga, and the DSWD is coordinating with her father who resides in Manila.
Adults who were rescued were given funds to enable them to start small businesses, while others found employment under the DSWD’s food-for-work program.
“Three (3) more minors were rescued in Aurora province and brought back to the custody of their parents. We provided food assistance, as well as counseling and legal services amid the pending cases against their former employers,” Apostol said
“Ten (10) women who were rescued got as much as P10,000 from their local government units to enable them to also starts small businesses. One minor was also returned to her parents in the city,” she added.
Three more minors rescued from nightspots in Zambales were reunited with their families in San Fabian, Pangasinan and Manila. Two rescued adults, also in Zambales, were reported to have found employment in Lebanon after they were also given financial assistance by the government.
“Fourteen (14) minors who were rescued were also reunited with their parents in Nueva Ecija. Also rescued in the province were four men from Gen. Natividad town and three women from Aliaga,” Apostol said. (Jason de Asis)
